Blog
Special Needs Trusts & More
There is still a misconception out there that it is not possible to leave your special needs family member inheritance because it could interrupt them from receiving any type of government entitlement.That is no longer true.There are things now in the federal statutes...
May is National Elder Law Month and It’s More Important Now Than Ever
Most of us have been taught to respect our elders. Back in 1963, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May as Senior Citizens month which was later changed to Older Americans Month by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”)...
Love is in the Air: The Importance of Having an Updated Estate Plan for Blended Families
February is the month of love according to the flower, greeting card and chocolate industries. According to the American Psychological Association, 40-50 % of first marriages in the United States end in divorce and that rate is even higher for subsequent marriages. So...
I’m the executor. What happens when my loved one passes away?
In last week’s blog, we discussed how to prepare your own financial and medical affairs to assist your loved ones for your eventual passing. This week, we are going to shift roles to provide guidance and insight into what you should do when a loved one has passed away...
How To Prepare Your Affairs For Your Heirs
“Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard Look, I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but eventually you are going to pass away. Probably not anytime soon, but eventually, years from now, you will (sorry!). However,...
Donating to a Charity and the 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization
With the recent online trend of the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” and this Saturday’s Fredericksburg Walk to End Alzheimer’s event, many people have been flooded with requests for charitable donations. Most people are willing to donate to a charitable organization...
Proposed California Law Allows Relatives to Restrict Visitation from Certain “Bad Relatives”
Generally, a family member cannot restrict the visitation rights of other family members without first having been appointed as a guardian or conservator over the elderly adult. It is usually very difficult to prevent visitation rights of “bad relatives” without a...
The Ultimate Betrayal: Financial Abuse From Your Own Power of Attorney Agent
“With great power comes great responsibility” – Voltaire The Power of Attorney document is a very critical estate planning tool that allows a person (the “principal”) to appoint someone else (the “agent”) to make important decisions, such as financial transactions,...
Family Caregivers: Your Career, Family, and Legal Rights
Earlier today, Anne Fisher of Fortune magazine published a brilliant article highlighting the struggles of family caregivers trying to succeed in their career and still take care of their elderly parents, friends, etc. (Can you care for an elderly parent and still...
Legal Disposition of Unclaimed Remains (Or How to Avoid a Zombie Apocalypse)
Okay, this week’s blog post is not a “How To Avoid Being Eaten By Zombies” or a “Survival Guide for the Zombie Apocalypse,” but it is still informative and helpful (and you may learn something about where possible zombies may end up). Rather, this post explores the...