Making Decisions About End of Life Medical Treatment
While advances in medicine allow people to live longer, questions are often raised about life-sustaining treatment terminally ill patients may or may not want to receive. Those who fail to formally declare these wishes in writing to family members and medical professionals run the risk of having the courts make these...
Myths and Facts About Probate
I just need a Will and a Living Will. This will avoid “probate” and allow someone to make medical decisions for me if I cannot express myself.
Not true. A Last Will and Testament is a “road map” that expresses how someone wants their estate (financial and...
What Is the Difference Between Estate Planning and Elder Law?
Elder law and estate planning law are terms that are often used interchangeably, with people mistakenly referring to both as the exact same thing. However, while elder law and estate planning law may – and often do – go hand-in-hand, the two areas of law have some noteworthy distinctions. Depending upon...
What Not to Neglect in Your Estate Plan
An estate plan refers to a comprehensive set of legal documents that are designed to address how your estate is to be managed when you are no longer able to make decisions, either as a result of an incapacitating illness or death. While creating an estate plan requires thinking about one’s...
Why Should People Wish to Avoid Probate?
Probate is the legal process of transferring property and distributing assets through the court system after a person’s death. Often times, the probate process also involves the proving of a legitimate Last Will and Testament, the payment of any creditors, the filing of the deceased’s taxes, and the changing of ownership...
May Someone with Dementia Sign a Last Will and Testament?
Creating a Last Will and Testament is one of the most important parts of forming an estate plan. To be sure, a Last Will and Testament allows a person to designate the distribute of their property to loved ones, beneficiaries, and third-parties; it offers peace of mind that estate matters are...
The Importance of Incapacity Planning for You and Your Family
Most people know that creating an estate plan that addresses what will happen to your assets, property, and minor children in the event that you die is very important. However, fewer people address the significance and importance of incapacity planning, despite the fact that incapacity planning is equally as critical. At...
4 Myths Regarding Medicaid Long-Term Care Coverage
For individuals who are of low income and assets, Medicaid can be an important tool that assists in paying for healthcare and long-term care expenses, such as nursing home or at-home care. However, program rules and eligibility regarding Medicaid, as well as what Medicaid will and will not pay for, can...
Reverse Mortgages and Your Heirs
A reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan that is available for homeowners who are at least 62-years of age. Homeowners with equity may be able to take a loan on the home’s equity without any obligation to pay it back during their lifetime, as long as they continue to live in...
Long Distance Caregiving What You Need to Know
We all want our elderly loved ones to live near us, but that is not always possible due to where our jobs are located or other circumstances. We often find ourselves many hours or days away from where our parents are living. Our loves ones may also be living in a...