Blog: Elder Law
Stay in Control: Use These Strategies to Avoid an Adult Guardianship in Florida
When a person, usually a senior, loses the ability to manage his or her affairs due to age or mental impairment, an adult guardian may need to be appointed by the local courts. This process allows a judge to appoint a person who is legally responsible for all aspects...
Tampa Elder Lawyer Offers Tips When Providing “Socially Distanced” Care for an Older Loved One
As we move into the next phase of the coronavirus crisis where social distancing guidelines are slowly relaxed and more people go back to work, the state and federal governments are still recommending that we shield the most vulnerable among us. Unfortunately, those...
Caregivers: Talk to Your Elderly Loved Ones About These Coronavirus Scams
As if the coronavirus crisis was not challenging enough for seniors and their loved ones, scammers are now using aggressive tactics to target vulnerable people who may be temporally cut off from the physical protection and oversight of their family. We are asking all...
Tampa Elder Lawyer on Proactive Estate Planning and Dementia
As medical technology advances, people in developed countries like the United States are living longer than ever. As a result, aging populations and their loved ones are struggling to cope with some of the medical conditions that tend to cause incapacity in old age,...
Tampa Will Attorney: How to Encourage Your Elderly Parent to Plan Their Estate
“In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” as Benjamin Franklin once said. Indeed, we cannot escape the reality that we will all die someday. And consequently, we will certainly have to pay taxes. This reality can hit exceptionally close to home for...
The SECURE Act Becomes Law: What It Means for Your Current Retirement Account and Your Future Beneficiaries
As a surprise to most financial professionals across the country, the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) has been approved by Congress following its last-minute inclusion into a bipartisan appropriations bill that would avert a...
How is the Supreme Court’s Gay Marriage Decision Good for Senior Citizens?
Is the Supreme Court's gay marriage decision good for senior citizens? The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on June 26, 2013 stating that a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional means that same-sex couples (in states that legally recognize...
Social Security – A Safety Net
Social Security – A Safety Net for Retired Americans, their Survivors, and the Disabled June 5, 2013 - By the NCPC Our council is dedicated to helping families recognize the need for long term care planning and to help implement that planning. All elderly people,...
Medicaid: Transitioning from skilled nursing to assisted living
Medicaid: Transitioning from skilled nursing to assisted living If you have a loved one who is being cared for in a skilled nursing facility and is receiving Medicaid benefits, and that person no longer needs to be in skilled nursing (but cannot live on their own or...
Beware “Medicaid Planners” who call themselves “experts”
Beware "Medicaid Planners" who are not attorneys You should NEVER have an attorney tell you that they can guarantee your Medicaid application is approved. You should NEVER have an attorney tell you they are an “expert” in elder law or special needs planning unless...
State Of Florida Resolution – May is recognized as Elder Law Month
Did you know that May is National Elder Law Month? Every year, for the month of May, Law Offices of Laurie E. Ohall P.A., P.A. provides FREE in -office consultations on a first come, first serve basis for senior citizens. While seminars can provide a plethora of...
Should I draft my own estate planning documents?
You’ve seen the commercials with OJ Simpson’s attorney telling you to go to a certain website, put in some information, and you can prepare your own estate planning documents with the click of a mouse. And I say – absolutely, go ahead and do that. Why would I say...
How does the Medicaid Reform in Florida affect me?
Medicaid Reform in Florida Under the Medicaid reform laws, Medicaid recipients are required to sign up for a new health plan within 30 days of being notified that it is time to pick a health plan. All Medicaid recipients are required to enroll in a managed care plan...
National Elder Law Month
Did you know that May is National Elder Law Month? Every year, for the month of May, Law Offices of Laurie E. Ohall P.A., P.A. provides FREE in -office consultations on a first come, first serve basis for senior citizens. While seminars can provide a plethora of...
Elder Law Questions: What is an annuity?
What is an Annuity? An annuity is an insurance product whose primary purpose is to pay income to an individual. It is generally used as part of a retirement plan. An individual will invest a certain sum of money for the promise that payments will be made to the...