“Patricia” just turned 84. A divorced and retired schoolteacher, she owns her own home and is in good health. She walks daily, including multi-hour walks with young friends who are amazed that she doesn’t just keep up, she has more endurance than they do! She loves gardening in the small plot behind her house, and […]
Many pet owners’ worst fear is that their pet will end up in a shelter if they suddenly pass away or are incapacitated. Good planning with the help of an estate planning attorney can make sure that your pets are taken care of no matter what happens. Anyone who owns a pet should have legal […]
If you or a loved one has lived with a mental illness and/or a substance use issue, you may be aware of how important it is to make your wishes for your health care known before a crisis occurs. When our own wishes are not known or are not followed, severe emotional trauma may occur […]
You should consider these tips before choosing a home for someone who has a physical or developmental disability. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lists state and local government agencies and other organizations that can help you. At the federal level, HUD also provides information about Section 504 regulations defining federal financial assistance. In particular, Section […]
We have all witnessed friends and family members die slowly as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. In the final stages of this and other dementia diseases, there comes a time when your loved one can no longer speak, recognize family members, or move purposefully. A Question of Quality of Life With poor quality of life, […]
Online profiles and accounts aren’t addressed in most estate plans because most adults don’t have a will. As your online presence grows professionally and personally, taking charge of your digital assets and plans for them after you die becomes important. Some social media companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter provide users with options to nominate […]
The number of Americans who are widowed or divorced has reached record levels, causing new partnerships to form among older Americans. The US Census Bureau reports that more than half of all older adults have only married once, opting to stay legally single in their future relationships. Cohabitating can have unforeseen and unintended consequences without a legally […]
Special needs trusts (SNT), or supplemental needs trusts, are legal entities designed to assist people of any age with disabilities with maintaining government benefits and receiving additional financial assistance. Under the SSA expenditure rules, an SNT can provide additional monies to enhance the beneficiary’s lifestyle while maintaining Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Supplemental […]
During the process of planning your future, both financially and medically, you may wonder what the difference between estate planning and elder law is. Estate planning and elder law also have some similarities. Even though these two types of law are for different stages in life, they are often handled at the same time. This […]
For estate planning purposes, revocable and irrevocable trusts are the most common types. While there is some similarity, these two major categories of trusts have different purposes in your estate plan. Both can substitute for a last will and testament as an alternative way to distribute property, though a trust and a will often exist […]
In order to qualify for Medicaid assistance for nursing home care, assisted living, in-home care, or adult foster care, an individual must meet certain income and asset criteria. As a result of these rules, many candidates give away their money and resources to qualify. However, there is a “look-back period” before the individual’s application acceptance, […]
It might seem straightforward to leave your property to your heirs. You make a will or a trust, you do a transfer-on-death deed for your real estate, you put your kids on your bank account, you designate beneficiaries for your life insurance and retirement accounts, and you’re done. If only things were that simple. The […]