Navigator

More than Just a Movie: What Manchester by the Sea Teaches Us About Guardianship By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 26, 2025 Scanning the shelf of recently returned DVDs at my local library branch my eyes landed on the film Manchester by the Sea.  A faint memory clicked in my brain; this was a film I had wanted to see.  I added it to my stack of library materials, checked out, and headed home.  Looking up the film I learned that in 2017 it was nominated for 6 Oscars, including best picture.  Actor Casey Affleck won for best actor, and writer and director Kenneth Lonergan was awarded Best Original Screenplay. As the end credits ran, it was obvious why the film had garnered critical acclaim. The film tells the story of Lee Chandler, a Boston janitor who becomes the sole guardian of his teenage nephew, Patrick, after his brother, Joe, unexpectedly dies from a heart condition.  Lee returns to his hometown of Manchester, Massachusetts, to handle Joe's funeral arr...

More Than Words: Understanding Obituaries, Eulogies, and Other Tributes By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 19, 2025 The recliner in my dad’s hospital room was brown, a beige blanket covered my legs, and the computer screen emitted blue light. These things I clearly remember.  Sixteen years ago this week, sometime past midnight on a random weeknight, I nestled in the recliner.  Taking refuge with my computer while my dad rested and was finally sedate, I faced the truth.  My dad had entered hospice care.  Soon the family would need to provide information to the hospital, funeral home, and others.  Sorting this out in a state of grief was not ideal.  If you can, face the reality that we will all be leaving this earth and that a loved one will need to furnish basic information.  Pulling information together yourself can be a lovely gift to your loved ones.   During moments like this emotions are high and details can be overwhelming. Having li...

On Your Marks. Set. Go! Take Control of Your Estate Plan By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 12, 2025 Summer of 2025 brought an unplanned hiatus here on Navigator.  Efforts in late June to tame the jungle in our backyard led me down a path of medical intervention.  Unfortunately my weeding path must have hit a patch of poison ivy, which I am apparently highly allergic to.  Multiple doctors visits and nearly 8 weeks of steroid pills later, I’m feeling much better.  The yard remains an overgrown mess.   Travel in early August took me to Las Vegas to attend the 59th Star Trek convention with my family.  “I married into the franchise” best describes why I made my way to a city that is not really my cup of tea.  The people I love the most in this world LOVE the Star Trek franchise.  From the Original Series to the current production of Strange New Worlds, they will dominate any trivia game associated with Trek. Trust me, if you have to spend a ...

Why You Should Read: The Measure of Our Age by MT Connolly By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi June 27, 2025 My copy, complete with post it notes and dogged-eared pages. Recently I read The Measure of Our Age: Navigating Care, Safety, Money & Meaning Later in Life by M.T. Connolly , which explores the fact that while our society has managed to extend the average American life by 30 years, we have lagged on enhancing those years with deeper quality of life.   Composed of 15 chapters the book is a comprehensive look at aging in America.  Topics include the typical: housing and money issues.  It also delves into the topics of elder abuse/neglect and the benefits of intergenerational living arrangements.  Connolly, an attorney and leading expert in the area of elder justice, delivers a sociological style read filled with true accounts and practical considerations.  For anyone planning to age with grace and dignity or those who aim to support a loved one in their e...

Pocket Peace of Mind: Estate Planning and Probate Lessons from Rome's Pickpockets to Today's Tech Scams By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi May 16, 2025 Streets of Rome, Italy. Image by M. Gustafson Gervasi Taking in the sites of Rome, Italy this past winter break, our itinerary read like the list of “Top 10 places for Pickpockets in Rome”: Roma Termini Train Station; the Colosseum; Trevi Fountain; the Vatican Museum; and Bus #64.  Yet, we felt prepared and did not experience the dreaded missing wallet or phone while traveling.  I read up about common pickpocket techniques in advance, purchased of a Baggallini anti-theft purse, and prepared a few responses to unsolicited offers of help (a common ploy thieves use to distract you abroad).  The trip was a success: we enjoyed the sites and returned to the States with our wallets, phones and passports!  Keep this story in mind as your life kicks into the high-gear of summer living. Yes, your life is about to get busy.  From...

Beyond the Myths: 3 Steps to Understanding Estate Planning Law  By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi May 9, 2025 "Pffhhhh, still saying this....? "  I asked to myself as my eyes fell upon the sign posted in a local store.  "No, that’s not quite right" , I muttered to myself.  The victim does not have the legal authority to prosecute shoplifters; that power lies with the District Attorney.  A victim can report a crime to the police, provide evidence (video surveillance for example), and express their preference.  But the ultimate decision to prosecute is for the District Attorney to make.  Over and over my legally trained eyes see half-truths and myths hovering over our understanding of the judicial system.  Even in my area of focus, estate planning and probate, the general public's knowledge is usually not quite accurate when it comes to the law. The most common example I see relates to power of attorney.  “I need to hire an attorney.  My mom di...

Ensuring Smooth Transitions: Gene Hackman's Will Teaches Us the The Importance of Survivorship Clauses By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi May 2, 2025 “Alright, and then on page six of your will you will see the section called ‘Survivorship’ – this means that a person can outlive you, but not survive you long enough to inherit.  For example, if there is a car accident and you die at the scene and your spouse dies two weeks later, she did not survive you by 90 days (the time frame noted here in the will), so the will treats her as though she predeceased you and your assets will go to the contingency you named.”  Weekly, as I educated my estate planning clients on the basic mechanics of a will, I offer these comments.  In recent weeks I have started to point out that they may have heard about the Survivorship concept because the will of Actor Gene Hackman apparently did not have a survivorship clause. Meaning his share of their combined estate will likely be distributed according ...