“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 […]
“Mike” and “Katy” were madly in love when they decided to buy a house together. Maybe that was part of the problem. They didn’t want to get married, but they wanted to buy their first home together. They didn’t consult a real estate attorney and made some classic mistakes. Making An Agreement A real estate […]
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 […]
“Parenting is always difficult, and it’s even more challenging when a child has a mental health or substance use issue.” – Barry Lessin, M.Ed, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Substance Use Problems Make Parenting Difficult at Any Age Many parents of all ages struggle with children who face substance use problems. Whether the problem […]
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 […]
For high-net-worth families, many legal strategies are employed to preserve wealth and minimize taxes. However, tax laws continually change and can impact new and existing estate plans. For example, the SECURE and SECURE 2.0 Act presents some challenges and opportunities in high-net-worth estate planning and the ability to transfer wealth from one generation to the […]
Most young parents do not think about dying or becoming seriously ill or injured. As unlikely as such a serious event is when we are young, it is a possibility. This is why we pay for medical insurance, disability insurance, and life insurance. Even though many young parents acknowledge the possibility of a life-altering event […]
Before seeking medical care, imagine if you were ill and had to decide if you could afford it. Unfortunately, for many Americans, seeking medical care hinges on affordability rather than medical necessity. About half of US adults have gone without or delayed medical care in the last year due to a lack of affordability. Even with insurance […]
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 […]
Parents usually treat their children’s inheritances equally, whether they are for property or money. But sometimes, parents intentionally choose to not leave anything to a child, and the reasons for doing so may vary. One reason could be that a child who is more financially successful than the others and the parent doesn’t feel it’s […]
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 […]