Art is passionate about helping his clients and the community thrive. As a seasoned elder law attorney with more than 45 years of experience, Art helps seniors and their loved ones plan for and cope with issues surrounding aging.
Throughout his career, Art has served in many leadership roles in the community. He is deeply committed to philanthropic endeavors within the region that contribute to the wellbeing of seniors and economic stability of the local communities.
His practice focuses on all aspects of lifetime and estate planning for seniors; specifically planning that incorporates protection for seniors and families in crisis who may need additional assistance to deal with dementia symptoms. These plans typically involve some combination of wills with testamentary trusts, inter vivos trusts (both revocable and irrevocable), powers of attorney, health care proxies, asset restructuring, and the use of other planning tools that maximize eligibility for MassHealth and other government benefits.
For the better half of his legal career, Art has been presenting at senior centers and on TV about topics directly related to seniors and shares his insights and resources available in their community. Most recently, Art has been focusing on legacy gifting through estate planning strategies. This area combines his estate planning background with his desire to see the region continue to blossom.
- Boston University School of Law JD
- Princeton University AB, cum laude
- Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Massachusetts Chapter
- Better Day, Board of Directors
- Dementia Friendly Communities Sub-Committee, co-chair, Public Policy Committee member
- In 2017, Art received the Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award from the MetroWest Health Foundation for his work in promoting dementia-friendly communities.
- Also in 2017, he and the Council on Aging Directors from Hudson, Marlborough and Northborough were jointly awarded the “Innovator of the Year” award by the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging (MCOA) for their work in building dementia-friendly communities.
- In 2015, Art was named “Person of the Year” by BayPath Elder Services, the regional non-profit agency that deals with the needs of seniors in 14 communities.
- Quoted in “My family is stealing my disabled parent’s inheritance. Should I get involved?,” Business Insider, January 17, 2023
- Quoted in “You’ve Got the Power (of Attorney),” AARP, February 4, 2022
- “Staying at Home,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (January 26, 2022)
- “Avoiding Family Feuds,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (November 2, 2021)
- “Living with Memory Loss,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (September 2, 2021)
- “Wills and Trusts,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (July 15, 2021)
- “Planning for the Last Year of Life,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (June 3, 2021)
- “Financial Planning for the ‘Rest of your Life’,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (May 17, 2021)
- “Tax Issues for Seniors,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (March 23, 2021)
- “Planning Ahead to Protect Your Home as You Age,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (March 2021)
- “What Seniors Need to Know About MassHealth,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (January 13, 2021)
- “Massachusetts Elder Law: Gifting,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (January 2021)
- “Medicare Open Enrollment,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (November 16, 2020)
- “Keeping Control and Avoiding Family Feuds as You Age,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (July 20, 2020)
- “Alternatives to Nursing Homes During COVID-19,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (April 28, 2020)
- Films monthly installments of “Elder Law 101,” a 12-part series of seminars dealing with the estate planning issues for seniors from age 60 until after they die.
- Films occasional “Bergeron Briefs,” 15-minute zoom-based interviews with professionals regarding specific topics of interest to elders. Recent Bergeron Briefs episodes have discussed Medicaid-qualifying annuities, long-term care insurance, HELOCs, reverse mortgages, and various assisted-living options.
- All seminars and Bergeron Briefs episodes can be seen on YouTube at youtube.com/ElderLawFrankAndMary.
