Steps to Take in Advance of Death or Disability
No one wants to face the fact that our loved ones will not be with us forever. Facing our own mortality is frightening as well. Although none of us wants to contemplate a time when we or a loved one might become disabled or die, it is important to be prepared....
Working with an Attorney? Tell the Truth!
It will most likely be difficult or impossible to complete the tasks, if all the facts are not available.
When you go to visit an elder law estate planning attorney, it is important to tell the truth about all aspects of your family members and other potential heirs. If not, it is...
Prepaid Funeral Contracts and Medicaid
If you are approaching the golden age, you may want to consider the cost of funeral arrangements for yourself that can also include your spouse, children, and siblings. By planning now, you can save yourself considerable sums of money and relieve your family of the financial– and some of emotional –stress involved in...
It Doesn’t Happen Frequently but Last Will and Testaments Can Be Contested
There are reasons for a Last Will and Testament to be contested and one is the mental capacity of the client.
The best way to avoid a Last Will and Testament contest, is to have a well-written Last Will and Testament prepared by a qualified estate planning...
How to Avoid Guardianship and Conservatorship
If a person becomes mentally or physically handicapped and can no longer make rational decisions about their person or their finances, his or her loved ones may consider a guardianship or a conservatorship whereby a guardian would make decisions concerning the physical person of the disabled individual, and conservators make decisions...
How to Contest a Will
You had a loving relationship with your mother and she always said she would leave everything to you and your siblings, but after she died, you discover she had recently written a new will, leaving everything to her housekeeper. Is there anything you can do? If you believe a loved one’s...
Is a Guardianship and Conservatorship Necessary
If a person becomes mentally or physically handicapped and can no longer make rational decisions about their person or their finances, his or her loved ones may consider a guardianship or a conservatorship whereby a guardian would make decisions concerning the physical person of the disabled individual, and conservators make decisions...
Five Benefits of Caregiver Agreements
Long-term caregiving has significant financial consequences for caregivers, particularly for women. Caregivers face the loss of their own income, loss of employer-based benefits, shrinking of savings to pay for caregiving costs and a threat to their retirement income due to fewer contributions to retirement vehicles.
One way...
Getting Divorced? Don’t Forget to Update your Estate Plan
Why do estate planning documents need to be updated when a couple is getting divorced? This simple story illustrates one of the key reasons.
An Arizona couple had been married for several years and during their marriage had built a very successful, multi-million-dollar business together. Perhaps they...
Gifting and Medicaid
Medicaid is a healthcare program designed to help individuals with limited income and assets afford needed medical care. Importantly, Medicaid covers long-term healthcare services such as nursing home costs and costs for at-home personal healthcare. Because Medicaid is intended to benefit those with limited income and assets, there are strict eligibility...