Arthur P. Bergeron

Legal Administrative Assistant Cindy A. Bridge

508.860.1465
cbridge@mirickoconnell.com

Art has been practicing law for over 45 years.  He joined Mirick O’Connell in 2010 to focus his practice exclusively on elder law in general, while continuing to handle land use permitting matters in his native Marlborough and neighboring Hudson communities.

Art is passionate about helping seniors and their loved ones plan for and cope with issues surrounding aging and the personal and economic hardships facing those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.  His elder law 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.

Art currently is:

  • Working as a member of the Ignation Volunteer helping develop and implement planned giving strategies for Nativity School, a Jesuit-inspired school for children in grades 4-8. Nativity provides tuition-free all-day (7:30AM – 7:30PM) education to 60 children from Worcester and surrounding communities who can benefit from their structured environment and empowering educational model.
  • On the Board of Directors and providing planned giving assistance at Better Day, a non-profit full-day program providing a safe and affirming place for seniors with memory loss and providing respite for those who are caring for them.
  • On the Board of Directors and providing planned giving assistance at Mass Parks for All, a statewide non-profit dedicated to supporting the efforts of state parks and state forests friends groups big and small and making every state park and forest a welcoming haven for us all.
  • On the Board and providing planned giving assistance at The Friends of Our Island Home, a non-profit dedicated to providing programming and other support for the residents of Our Island Home, the only publicly owned nursing home in the Commonwealth, and to their families and the staff there. 

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.

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Boston University School of Law JD
  • Princeton University AB, cum laude

Publications/Presentations

 
  • 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)
  • Presents annually over 75 free legal advice clinics at local senior centers in Ashland, Holden, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Northborough, Southborough and Sudbury.
  • Contributor to Council on Aging  monthly newsletters in Ashland, Framingham, Hudson, Marlborough, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Northborough and Southborough with “Frank and Mary’ columns that address the many elder law issues that keep seniors up at night.
  • Contributor to Mirick O’Connell’s Estate Planning and Elder Law Blog
  • 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. These pre-recorded 30-minute programs are broadcast on local community cable stations in Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holden, Holliston, Hudson, Marlborough, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough. These programs are usually scheduled for weekly broadcast on those local public access stations.
  • 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 www.youtube.com/ElderLawFrankAndMary.

Professional / Community Affiliations

  • 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


T&E Blog
Visit our YouTube Channel, Elder Law with Frank and Mary
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PLANNING TO KEEP CONTROL

This article was co-authored by Arthur Bergeron and Leah Kofos. Does this dilemma sound familiar?  On one hand, you want to keep control of your life and make all of financial and medical decisions yourself.  On the other hand, you …

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Living with Memory Loss

Thirty years ago next month, my mother died in a nursing home.  Back then, there weren’t open discussions, shared knowledge, or resources available to people with Alzheimer’s Disease.  Most seniors died from “hardening of the arteries” or just “old age.” …

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Emergency Broadband Benefit

One lesson the pandemic has taught us is that having Internet access is essential, now more than ever. However, many people are struggling to afford Internet services. Luckily, a new federal coronavirus aid program might be able to help. Launched …

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COVID-19 Funeral Reimbursement Program

Has a loved one passed away due to COVID-19 complications? If so, you may be eligible for a government reimbursement for funeral expenses to assist with funeral services, interment, and cremation.  The assistance is limited to a maximum reimbursement amount …

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Durable Powers of Attorney: What You Should Know

You have worked hard to grow and nurture your assets throughout your lifetime. What happens if, due to illness, hardship, or other difficulty, you are unable to continue to do so? A Durable Power of Attorney answers this question. A …

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Do I Need a Health Care Proxy?

If you have found yourself asking this question, the answer is an emphatic yes. Health Care Proxies are one of the most important documents in your estate plan. So what is it, and why is it so important? A Health …

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Financial Planning for Seniors

This article was authored by elder law attorneys Arthur P. Bergeron and Leah Kofos. To whom do you trust to give your financial planning advice?  Your accountant?  Your kids?  The guy you have coffee with at Dunkin Donuts?  Your lawyer? …

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Extension of 2020 Massachusetts Tax Return Filing and Payment

This article was authored by Allen J. Falke, Tracy A. Craig, and Leah Kofos. Following the recent federal extension for tax filings, Massachusetts has announced that it will extend the filing and payment deadline for individual income tax returns until …

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Extension of 2020 Federal Tax Return Filing and Payment

This article was authored by Allen J. Falke, Tracy A. Craig, and Leah Kofos. The Internal Revenue Service announced yesterday that the federal income tax filing and payment deadline for individuals will be extended until May 17, 2021. This extension …

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A Few Tips for Tax Season

This article was authored by elder law attorneys Arthur P. Bergeron and Leah A. Kofos. I love being at Mirick O’Connell because when my elder clients inevitably call me at this time of year asking tax questions, I can always …

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