Joel A Bernstein

Joel A Bernstein

4.8
Rating: 8.6

Licensed for 39 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Lexington, MA
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate

33 Bedford Street., Suite 13, Lexington, MA

About Joel

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 90%

34 years | 2,500 cases

90%
Probate 5%

34 years | 160 cases

5%
Trusts 5%

34 years | 2,100 cases

5%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Massachusetts for 39 years

State: Massachusetts

Acquired: 1986

Active

No misconduct found

Location

MA Wills and Trusts - Joel Bernstein

33 Bedford Street., Suite 13, Lexington, MA, 02420

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Joel A Bernstein's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

66 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (66) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 11 - 14 of 14 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by Glenn | February 14, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

Trusted advisor

I am an attorney, but not with any particular knowledge of probate or estate law. I also have quasi-complicated needs due to re-marriage and children from both prior marriages. I brought him my problems and all my preconceived ideas about what my plan would look like. As a process: Joel listened t...o me; he thought about what I was really asking; he checked with me; then, consistently, answered the questions I really wanted to ask. He gave me a flexible plan, tailored to my needs and the needs of my people, and documentation which is direct, and simple to work with. And he continues to advise as I implement the plan. I would recommend Joel to anyone, including other attorneys, without reservation.

Joel Bernstein

Replied last February 14, 2018

Glenn - Thank you for your confidence in us. As you are an attorney, I appreciate you seeing our focus in this area of law of estate planning using wills and trusts. Again, Glenn, thanks. Joel

Posted by anonymous | February 14, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

Review of Joel Bernstein

I would like to extend my appreciation and thank you for to Joel A. Bernstein for the terrific job he did in the creation of our estate. My wife and I both found Joel to be a very effective and component lawyer. He explained the strategies and the benefits of a living trust. We are grateful for hi...s flexibility in accommodating our very tight schedule as we were leaving for Europe. Furthermore he explained his fee structure at our first meeting. We are enjoying our on going business relationship. I would recommend Joel to anyone interested in establishing their estate planning needs.

Joel Bernstein

Replied last February 14, 2018

Thanks for doing business with us. I realize that people like to travel and sometimes they come to me just before a major trip. I try very hard to get it done before you leave on vacation - and I am glad we succeeded in getting you estate planning done in plenty of time. Joel

Posted by John | April 24, 2015 | Estate Planning

29 Years of Excellent Service

Joel created an estate plan for us about 29 years ago. He has kept us informed about changes in the laws that require us to make appropriate updates. We are totally satisfied with the service that he has provided to us. I would recommend him without reservation.

Posted by John | October 02, 2014 | Wills & Living Wills

Review

We find him through our company legal service contractor, ARAG. We set an appointment for consultant for wills, and related legal topics. When we got there, he asked us to fill in a form for our property values, 401k etc. Then he started to ask what you want me to write for will, a simple will and du...rable power of attorney and said that ARAG only cover for these things... I tried to ask him for some general questions and options, he quickly lost patient and gave very brief answers and get back to what you want me to write for today again. My feeling was that he didn't want to give any advises and suggestions, but to write a will only. Finally he said you had so many questions, my time was expensive, why didn't you go home figuring out what you want me to write and came back to write the will. This was all what happened to our first appointment.

See All Client Reviews

Joel A Bernstein's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Joel
Rahul Aggarwal headshot
Rahul Aggarwal

Unknown lawyer | Mar 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services."

John R. Hope headshot
John Hope

Estate planning lawyer | Mar 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"What I like about Joel is his intelligence, compassionate personality, and comprehensive systems approach to providing legal services. Joel is good at helping his clients prioritize their goals and understand the various legal estate planning options to best accomplish them. In the past Joel and I have collaborated in reviewing and editing some of each others complex trust document templates. I found Joel to be extremely detail oriented and thorough - he doesn't miss anything. I think his great personality, his technical savvy, and his legal knowledge are a winning combination. Also, he gets his work done in a timely manner, no unnecessary delays. "Estate planning done in three weeks" is his mantra. If my parents lived in Massachusetts I would send them to Joel for their estate planning needs. Joel also handles Estate Administration and the Probate of Estates in a caring sensitive way."

Steven R Graham headshot
Steven Graham

Estate planning lawyer | Mar 02

Relationship: Supervised lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer. I have know Joel for over thirty years. Initially, as an employee and colleague, and subsequently, as a trusted professional to whom I have referred clients with estate planning needs. I have found Joel to be thorough, responsive to client needs and very knowledgeable."

Timothy Brewster Borchers headshot
Timothy Borchers

Unknown lawyer | Mar 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Joel for more than 5 years as an estate planning attorney and friend. As proof if you will of his quality has an attorney I need only think about the intelligence he brings to his cases and to the deep thinking he gives to the law. As for his ability with clients, it is second to none. He has developed a terrific rapport and a system for working through estate plans and administration that would make anyone feel at home with his practice. I am only glad he is not my one-on-one competitor!"

Allan L. Knowles headshot
Allan Knowles

Estate planning lawyer | Dec 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Joel is an excellent estate planning lawyer and an expert on trusts. His professorial as well as kind and compassionate manner perfectly suits his area of legal practice. I have and will continue to recommend clients to him with the utmost confidence. Attorney Bernstein is a true professional and always a pleasure to work with."

View All Endorsements
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Experience

Rating:  8.6 (Excellent)

Associations

2013 - Present

Cary Library Professional Advisers

Lawyer on Board

1993 - 1996

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

On Board of Governors

1986 - 1989

American Bar Association

Editor of Real Property Technology

Sample of Legal Cases

Saved $99,000 in taxes

Tax Savings

See More Legal Cases

Education

1989

Boston University School of Law

LL.M - Master of Laws

1981

Vermont Law School - Environmental Law Center

Masters in Law

1979

Western New Englahd School of Law

Juris Doctor

1975

Hobart and Wm. Smith Colleges

BA

Speaking Engagements

2014

Washington Society of CPAs

Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates - Washington State

2014

Mastering the Fundamentals of Estate Planning for CPAs

Estate Planning for CPAs

2014

Massachusetts Society of CPAs

Federal Estate and Gift Tax

2014

Estate and Life Planning

Estate and Life Planning for Middle Class Clients

2014

CPA Fiduciary Income Taxation - Advanced

Fiduciary Income Taxation

2014

CPA Education

Advanced Income Tax for CPAS of CT

2014

Advanced Trusts and Estates Law

Advanced Fiduciary Income Taxation

2013

Basics of Trusts for Lawyers and CPAs

Trusts

2011

Mass. Society of Enrolled Agents

Trusts and Estates: Income Taxation

2000

Charles Schwab Inc. Workshop

Advanced Planning for Retirement Assets

1988

Cambridge MA Entrepreneurs - Guest Speaker

Automation of Law Documents

1987

Co-participant of Video

Automating Real Estate Video for ABA

1986

Mid-Year Annual Meeting

Economics of Computer Driven Real Estate Law

1986

Annual Meeting

Computerized Real Estate Conveyacning

Publications

2015

Loring/Rounds on Trusts Co-wrote Chapter in Loring on Trusts

1990

Real Estate Computer User Group Newsletter Editor for American Bar Association

1990

Callaghan's Law Office Economics and Management Journal Economics of Computerized Real Estate

1987

American Bar Association Probate and Property Journal Editor for American Bar Association

1987

ABA Probate and Property Journal A Primer on Computerized Real Estate Conveyancing
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