Real Families Deserve Real Counsel — Not AI

The biggest danger to your growth as a family with meaningful assets in 2025 isn’t that AI will replace lawyers. It’s that DIY platforms and generative drafting tools convince people they’re “good enough.” Quick, cheap, and generic may sound appealing—until the plan unravels when it matters most.

At McHugh Law, we believe there’s a critical segment of clients for whom “cookie-cutter” planning is not just risky, but potentially devastating. These are the Mass Affluent—families who have accumulated significant wealth, own businesses or property, and need a level of foresight, customization, and jurisdictional expertise that AI simply cannot deliver.

We serve families in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Florida, where the laws differ significantly. A trust designed for a Florida homestead property, for example, can have very different requirements than one created for real estate in Rhode Island or Massachusetts. Generic AI tools aren’t equipped to handle these differences—but McHugh Law is.

1) The Mass Affluent Need More Than Templates

Families with $1–$5 million in investable assets, multiple properties, or business interests are too complex for DIY services—but often overlooked by firms that chase only the ultra-wealthy.

• Cross-state planning: Snowbirds who split time between New England and Florida must navigate residency, tax exposure, and homestead rules.
• Business succession: Owners of closely held businesses need continuity strategies that work across jurisdictions.
• Blended families: Second marriages, stepchildren, and complex inheritances require flexibility beyond boilerplate language.

AI can’t account for these nuances—but McHugh Law, with deep roots in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and extensive experience in Florida, can.

2) The Pitfalls of AI & DIY Tools for Multi-State Families

AI tools make one dangerous assumption: that your circumstances are simple. For multi-state families, that’s rarely true.

• Different state probate rules — Florida’s homestead protections, Massachusetts’ estate tax thresholds, and Rhode Island’s probate procedures all create traps for the unwary.
• Conflicting tax regimes — Without professional planning, clients may unintentionally trigger double taxation.
• Failure to adapt over time — AI-generated documents don’t evolve when your family does: relocation, remarriage, or changes in business ownership can render a plan obsolete.

The risk isn’t that these clients won’t get a plan; it’s that they’ll get a flawed plan that costs exponentially more to unwind later.

3) Why McHugh Law Is Different

At McHugh Law, we combine local expertise with a multi-state perspective. Whether you’re a lifelong Rhode Islander, a Massachusetts business owner, or a retiree with property in Florida, our attorneys know the rules, the courts, and the traps unique to each jurisdiction.

• Integrated estate, tax, and asset protection strategies
• Personalized counsel that accounts for family dynamics
• Continuity and review over time—so your plan grows with you

AI can’t substitute for judgment, accountability, and foresight. That’s what sets McHugh Law apart.

4) Winning for the Mass Affluent

• Protection from multi-state pitfalls
• Peace of mind that their wishes will be honored and their wealth preserved
• A partner who understands both the legal environment and the human side of planning

Conclusion: Real Families Deserve Real Counsel

AI has its place as a tool—but not as your advisor. Families who rely on it for complex, multi-state planning are gambling with their legacy.

At McHugh Law, we proudly serve Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Florida families with solutions tailored to their assets, their goals, and their futures. We don’t just prepare documents—we protect families for generations.

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