Recent Blog Posts
Who do I name in my estate planning documents? Decisions, Decisions
Who do I name in my estate planning documents? The hardest decision for some (once they’ve decided to do their estate planning) is who to name in the documents to make decisions. Who do you want to name as the personal representative (also commonly referred to as the...
Top 7 Elder Law, Senior Care Experts to Follow on Twitter
I thought it would be fun to create my own list of top Elder Law and Senior Care related twitter feeds that I enjoy following. These are people that I follow from around the country who are the top in their field of law or who have business that help the elderly. ...
Top 10 Reasons People Don’t Do Their Estate Planning
They are intimidated by the process. Estate planning does not have to be intimidating – you just need to know what to expect. Most attorneys will have you fill out a questionnaire that lists your assets and liabilities and asks you questions like, “Who do you want to...
Making End of Life Decisions
Making End of Life Decisions Whenever I talk to people about creating a living will (which outlines important health care decisions that you want – and, not to be confused with a Last Will and Testament, which specifies who you want to inherit your assets and who will...
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
Estate Planning for LGBT couples Estate planning for “non-traditional” families is a very relevant topic and one that I do not think gets enough attention. Same-sex couples have the same estate planning needs as do opposite-sex couples – probably more so, than...
Estate planning after a Divorce
So, you’ve gone through a divorce (and it’s probably taken an emotional toll) and you are thankful that the process is over….or is it? Prior to your divorce, you and your spouse may have taken the time to do your estate planning. Or perhaps you had listed your...
The 3 most important documents every parent should have for their college-bound teenager
Don’t you love that Office Depot jingle where the father is all excited because it’s time to go shopping for school supplies and get the children back to school? It always makes me laugh. It’s also an exciting time for those parents who have children about to go to...
Advance Care Directives – Taking control of your own medical care and destiny
Advance Care Directives are specific instructions about medical care if that person becomes unable to do so. An example is a Living Will, a document that explains the wishes of a person during a terminal illness. Do Not Resuscitate Order, for example: "No CPR if...
What portion of the living expenses are deductible for the Aid and Attendance benefit?
In order to calculate the benefit a veteran or his/her surviving spouse will receive, the VA deducts unreimbursed medical expenses (UME’s). If a veteran or surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance (because they meet the medical qualifications), the VA...
Can wife in an ALF receive benefits based on husband’s service if the husband is still living in the home?
Maybe. There is generally some confusion as to who is entitled to receive Improved Pension benefits, probably because of the way the benefits are named. Most people are familiar with the Aid and Attendance program, but it is only one level of the VA’s “Improved...
Why do I need long term care insurance?
I usually have a discussion with almost every estate planning client that I meet with about long term care insurance. Some clients respond by saying, “I’m too young to need that” to which I respond – ever heard of Terry Schaivo? She was only 26 years old when she...
Why A few bad apples could spoil the VA Aid and Attendance Program
What is the saying – it’s the few bad apples that spoil it for the rest of us? Last month, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held hearings to expose what they call “pension poachers” which are financial advisors and attorneys who sell annuity products to help...
My special needs child is about to turn 18 – Am I still in charge?
I have been receiving an alarmingly high volume of phone calls over the last few months from individuals who have children with special needs that are about to turn 18 and they are panicked because they have been told they will lose the ability to make legal, health...
Caring for Veteran Seniors -VA Long Term Care Benefits
The Iraq and Afghan Wars have had a huge effect on claims for veterans’ benefits, and it is only expected to get worse. This not only affects the veterans and their families, but it affects all of us as taxpayers, as well. It also doesn’t help that the it takes the...
What happens to my social media accounts when I die?
Back in 2009, I was featured on Bay News 9 as a reporter was working on a story of a mother who wished to maintain the online presence for her teenage daughter. This question comes up quite a bit as we become a more digital population and our lives play out...