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The sandwich generation: coping with being stuck in the middle caring for...
They call it the “Sandwich Generation,” those individuals who care for their young, college-aged, adult, or boomerang kids, while at the same time caring for and parents or in-laws who need some level...
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Usernames, passwords and logins: preventing a disaster for your heirs
If you pay bills and bank online and handle much of your financial activity there, your agents under your durable power of attorney, or the executor of your will, or the administrator of your estate...
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What to do when a loved one dies
Coping with the death of a loved one is difficult. Since family members and friends will be experiencing a time of emotional strain, it is important for those involved with the funeral arrangements and...
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Capacity requirements – estate planning for loved ones with dementia
Today’s average life expectancy exceeds 77 years. As life spans increase, estate planning attorneys confront the growing challenge of representing older clients who may have started to suffer...
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Estate planning for blended families: considerations for cohabitating or...
The days of mostly traditional American families are probably gone for good. The modern family of today is often a mix of spouses, exes, kids, and steps who somehow find a way to make it all work....
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Filial responsibility: will you be responsible for your parents’ nursing home...
In June of 2012, a Pennsylvania Appeals Court found that a son should be required to pay for his mother’s nursing home care bill in the amount of $93,000.00 under the filial responsibility law....
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Unintended beneficiaries: When a beneficiary dies shortly after you and your...
We’re all familiar with Light My Fire by the Doors. However, every time I hear that song, I think of both Jim Morrison’s life, which ended too soon, and also the will that he had signed. Morrison’s...
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Dispelling Medicaid myths about gifts
It seems like every day someone tells me that they are going to protect their assets from long term care expenses by making a gift of $10,000 to their children. Ah, if only I had a dollar for every...
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What VA benefits are available to you?
Very often, Veteran’s Administration benefits are overlooked, despite their availability for veterans and their families. All these people have to do is file an application, and yet many individuals...
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Clarifying social security and taxes
While social security was never intended to be taxable income when the benefit was enacted by Congress, it appears that there are over 15 million taxpayers who reported social security as taxable...
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Health Care Proxy vs DNR Order – What’s the difference?
Paramedics are often called to a home because of an emergency situation, and most people desire that extraordinary medical procedures be utilized in a time of crises. But this is not the case in every...
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Dementia and estate planning - capacity requirements
At the turn of the 20th century, the average life expectancy was a mere 49 years and dementia was a rare phenomenon. Today’s average life expectancy exceeds 77 years. As life spans increase, estate...
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Good grief! Preparing your family to handle your death
Imagine that today you pass away. Your loved ones would be devastated, but they would, nonetheless, be called upon to tend to your final affairs – arranging your funeral, managing your final debts,...
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The probate process, step-by-step
One of the most common goals of people as they grow older and build their assets is to avoid the probate process. Although it is not necessary a horrendous ordeal, it does have drawbacks, which include...
View ArticleNo contest clauses – are they contestable?
Sometimes a client requests that a so-called no contest clause or interrorem clause be inserted within their estate planning documents, usually their wills and trusts. Within a will and trust, this...
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Navigating the Minefield of Long Distance Caregiving
There comes a point when most of our nation’s elders will need assistance with various tasks, such as household management, bathing, dressing, medication management, meal preparation and eating,...
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Preparing for your vacation
Vacation season is coming soon after the holidays. Are you planning a trip? When planning to travel, it is common to experience nervousness. What would happen if you did not make it safely to or from...
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10 perils of joint tenancy
Joint tenancy is a form of co-ownership. An advantage is that when one co-owners dies, the surviving co-owner instant has access to the jointly held property, eliminating the need for probate. However,...
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Demystifying probate: the probate process, step-by-step
One of the most common goals of people as they grow older and build their assets is to avoid the probate process.To Probate or not to Probate Your WillProbate is the court's supervision of the process...
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Charitable Giving and Medicaid Issues: When does generosity disqualify you in...
It is common for people to want to make gifts and transfers to various charities. These gifts could consist of stock, cash, life insurance, etc. As people become older, they sometimes find that they...
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