Matthew F. Erskine, Attorney
Matthew specializes in providing legal and fiduciary services for families, estates and businesses with unique assets or issues.
Handling as many as seven generations of a single family in succession, these unique assets have included multi-million dollar family businesses, numismatic collections, fine art and Americana collections, commercial and residential real estate holdings, family farms and real estate portfolios.
Fourth generation lawyers are known for integrity and personal service.
“Matt genuinely cares about people and consistently provides us with approachable, no-nonsense and straightforward advice. He always takes care of a situation; finding the right solution for any estate or tax issue we present to him.” – James Van Loenen
Unlike most trust and estate attorneys and other wealth management advisors, Matt is client-focused, ensuring holistic financial security while preserving the ownership of a unique – but often illiquid – asset for the client and the family. A true New Englander, Matt’s family moved to Worcester County in 1645, and has been practicing law in Worcester since 1876. Matt became managing partner in 1992.
Matt’s Education
Suffolk University - JD (1987), Carleton College - BA (1982), Lawrence Academy (1978)
Tax & estate law services, including probate law, since 1876
The law firm of Erskine & Erskine has helped families and heirs achieve peace-of-mind with respect to their financial future and personal legacies. Growing up in the firm, Matt learned a custom, holistic approach to estate planning and trust management that is both empathetic and practical.
Areas of expertise
Complex interstate and international financial, tax and estate planning, and trust administration
Financial, operational, and corporate planning (including private equity and mergers & acquisitions) for family-owned businesses
Planning for and managing collections of fine art, numismatics, Americana, antiquities, and other tangible collectibles for collectors, dealers, and artists
Integrating diverse, independent professionals—from accountants to money managers to insurance agents—for a unified planning process
Funding and managing multi-million dollar private family foundations
Core Values
More than knowing the tax code, we work with changing tax codes to preserve your assets and peace of mind. We offer more dedicated support, resulting in more effective planning. We can meet virtually or in-person to make you comfortable.
While no plan is future-proof, our experience helps you better mitigate risk. You have the peace of mind that the future is well-managed.
We tailor plans that suit you as an individual, or business. Taking a personal approach and learning your needs helps us solve problems and prevent future conflicts.
Matt was raised on the principle of client first. As a century-old practice, Matt and his team work with clients on a personal level to design the plan best able to realize the future they envision.
Legal and Community Affiliations
What People Are Saying
“Thank you so very much for all you are and have done for my father. So often you were able to bring in the best resource based on your experience. You were also able to make sensible decisions in my absence which was a terrific help for family sanity. My father relied on you and your father with complete trust over many years. So thank you for going way beyond normal standards in helping Walter at the end of his life. This comes from my brother and the rest of the family as well as Stephen and me.”
– Patricia [Maxson]
“In our twenty years or more as legal clients of Matthew F. Erskine, we have always found him to be competent, thoughtful, resourceful, and pleasant to deal with. His recommendations have been based on solid expertise, especially helpful to us in the realm of collections of valuable art objects for which there can be no set valuation. Matthew has been unfailingly good-natured and patient with us, even when we probably would have tried a lesser man’s patience. We intend to continue as his clients, and we highly recommend his services.”
– Edmund M. Frederick and Patricia H. Frederick
“Your diligent help, support, and direction concerning my husband Jerry has been invaluable. Your timely return of phone calls and emails has been wonderful. Thanks for taking on my sons and guiding them in their Will and Trust We appreciate all you have done now and hopefully in the future.”
– Kathy