Financial Safety Nets Important, but Difficult to Achieve

by Laurie Ohall | Nov 29, 2011 | Estate Planning

A new American Dream that is less conventional and more personalized is emerging, according to the fifth annual MetLife Study of the American Dream. Specifically stated within the nationwide survey is a look at attitudes toward financial safety nets. A financial...

Social Security Cost Of Living Increase is Good News for Seniors

by Laurie Ohall | Nov 14, 2011 | Estate Planning, Long Term Care Planning

Some good news for Seniors Social Security announced a 3.6 percent increase in benefits for 2012.  This is the first cost-of-living increase since 2009. What does that mean to you?  If you are receiving social security, your increase will start with checks issued in...

Cost of Living Adjustment increases aid for Veterans

by Laurie Ohall | Nov 11, 2011 | Elder Law, End of Life Issues, Estate Planning, Senior Lifestyles, VA (Veteran's Affairs)

President Obama signed the Veteran’s Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 on November 9, 2011 which increases the rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans,...

Can I Get Paid to Care for an Elderly Family Member?

by Laurie Ohall | Nov 7, 2011 | End of Life Issues, Estate Planning, Florida Laws, Long Term Care Planning, Medicaid, Senior Lifestyles, VA (Veteran's Affairs)

As the number of family members providing care for aging parents increases, the solutions to find help with loss of income because of time off from employment for caregiving has become a major concern for many. The demands on both the time and energy needed to provide...

Comparison between Florida & Ohio as it relates to estate planning, elder law

by Laurie Ohall | Oct 27, 2011 | Estate Planning, Medicaid, Probate

As an attorney with license to practice law in both Florida and Ohio, I find that many people I come in contact with either live in Florida and have family in Ohio or vice versa.  If you or someone you know happens to fall into one of those categories, you may want to...

What is the difference between a living will and a DNR?

by Laurie Ohall | Oct 11, 2011 | Estate Planning, Florida Laws, Health Care Directives, Living Will

A DNR order is not the same as a living will.  A DNR is an order signed by a doctor which indicates that the patient should not be resuscitated.   This has to be signed by both the doctor and the patient (or their healthcare surrogate, healthcare proxy or court...