Charitable Giving in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Find the right Charitable Giving attorney in Gloucester, MA

In Gloucester, Massachusetts, "charitable giving" involves donating money or property to an individual or organization, expecting nothing directly in return.

In general, it's quite easy to make a charitable donation to a cause you want to help. Whether it includes writing a huge check, or dropping spare change in a donation jar, a huge majority of charitable gifts are made simply by giving money away, with no intermediary or other intricate legal arrangements.

Some people want to give a larger percentage of their assets to a charitable organization than would be feasible during life, so they formulate some type of arrangement under which the money will be transferred upon the donor's death.

If you want to make a donation that's effective after your death, there are a few ways to do this. The most prevalent method is also the simplest: leaving the charity whatever property you want to give to it in your will - this is known as a "testamentary gift."

Charitable Trusts in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Charitable trusts are typically used for very large donations, and can be made during the donor's life, or after their death.

In a charitable trust, the money that is donated is still legally owned by the donor. But this is largely a formality, as the charity receives possession and control over the money. The charity is then free to use that money, but exclusively for the purposes laid out in the trust instrument.

The most typical type of Gloucester, Massachusetts charitable trust is identified as a "charitable remainder trust." Under this arrangement, some of your money or property is directed to your charity of choice. The charity then invests the money, while giving a percentage of the income generated by these investments to you or a beneficiary of your choice, for a determinate period of time. Once this time is up, ownership of the original fund transfers to the charity.

You should make sure the charity is registered with the Internal Revenue Service, and (if applicable) the taxation authority of .

Do I Need a Gloucester, Massachusetts Attorney?

When attempting to create a charitable trust, or make another charitable donation, the first thing you should do is discuss this with the organization you want to make the donation to. They will probably be able to advise you on how to donate your money in the way that will be most useful to them. And, of course, you should speak with an attorney in Gloucester, Massachusetts, who will typically be able to make the process much easier.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Gloucester

Gloucester, Massachusetts is a city located on Cape Ann, in Essex County. According to a 2007 Census estimate, its population is approximately 30,000 people. The area now known as Gloucester was first reached by British settlers in the 1620s. The town of Gloucester was so named in the 1640s (or that's when the first known written reference to the name exists) from a town of the same name en England. The town, thanks to its once-abundant supply of lumber, and its proximity to the ocean, used to be an important shipbuilding center. Though this industry has largely moved elsewhere, it is still an important part of the town's history and culture. It was also once a very important center for commercial fishing, and fishing is still an important component of the local economy. The architecture of Gloucester is quite beautiful, with many sections of the town comprised almost entirely of 100+ year old buildings, giving it the idyllic look distinctive to New England. There are also plenty of lawyers in and around Gloucester, Massachusetts who can handle whatever legal problem you might find yourself facing. New England is home to several exceptional law schools, and, by extension, many exceptional lawyers. If you have a legal issue, a Gloucester, Massachusetts lawyer can help.

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