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 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Responsiveness

Posted by Douglas | February 15, 2018 | Estate Planning

Truly Exceptional Attorney

Joel Bernstein has handled my estate planning for the past 20 years. He has a real passion for this discipline and I believe him to be one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field. His attention to details and his regular reminders to keep my plan current, give me great confidence that my est...ate is being well considered.

Joel Bernstein

Replied last February 15, 2018

Douglas - Thanks for your hearty review. We enjoy our work and learn every day - we move from darkness to light in some area of our knowledge. Thanks. Joel

Posted by Beth | February 15, 2018 | Estate Planning

Professional, compassionate and responsive

We hired Joel Bernstein when my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and things were looking very grim...within a very short period of time, Mr. Bernstein was able to get all our legal matters in place. He even took the time to visit my husband in the hospital to secure signatures, etc. H...e expressed compassion and yet was extremely professional and proficient.

Joel Bernstein

Replied last February 15, 2018

Beth - Thank you for your review. Yes, sometimes we have to go to the client's location, outside of our usual Lexington, MA office. Hope you are well. Joel

Posted by Steve | February 15, 2018 | Trusts

Good Source for your Estate Plan and Trusts

we have been a client for about 29 years. Mr. Berstein set up a series of family trusts for us. Hwe also developed medical proxies, power oxf attorney documents He has kept us informef of channges in laws. He recently updated all of our documents. He went over our personal situation. He answered all ...of our questions. He did a great job explaining our options and providing guidance. HE provides the final documents on our agreed schedule.

Joel Bernstein

Replied last February 15, 2018

Steve - Thanks for the multiple star review. We truly appreciate your confidence in our firm. Joel

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

Five Stars: Excellent

I worked closely with Joel for an extended period of time on my elderly parents' estate plan. The plan required a series of amendments to address various changes in their circumstances. He provided timely, practical legal advice on a series of issues and quality work product throughout. He earned ...my business. I engaged him to advise and draft an estate plan for my wife and me. Joel stays involved. He regularly sends us a client advisory letter and reminds us of the importance of keeping our estate plan updated if necessary.

Joel Bernstein

Replied last February 14, 2018

Frederick - Many thanks for the great review. Yes, we here at the law office of Joel Bernstein have written to clients 2x each year for the last 25 years - to remind people how life can throw us curves and we should act, not react, in general. Again, many thanks - hope you are well. 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

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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