Understanding Your Social Security Award Letter
Hoping to receive your social security award letter soon? Let’s go through what the award letter and overall application system is like.
Legal
Read about several legal instruments for real estate planning and caregivers including power of attorney, wills, trusts, and deeds.
What is The Five Wish Document?
Like most legal contracts, living wills (also called advance directives) tend to have confusing legal jargon with something in the fine print that doesn’t work in your favor. And that’s unfortunate because planning for the worst shouldn’t be so complicated. That’s where the Five Wish document comes in – it’s simple, legally binding, and unlike …
What is Next of Kin?
Have you ever heard the words ‘next of kin’ and wondered what they really meant? You’ve come to the right place! Understanding this concept can be very important to take care of your loved ones’ interests once they have passed. Read on to learn more about what it means, and how it may affect you. …
How To Protect Your Money From Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal and state program that can provide financial aid that helps with healthcare costs. Often, Medicaid can cover expenses that a Medicare plan may not. Medicaid is a widely recognized and commonly used way of paying for LTC or Long-Term care (nursing homes, personal home care) for older adults. However, while Medicaid …
Caregiver’s FAQ: What is probate court?
After a loved one’s death, the last thing you want to worry about is all the legal stuff. Yet, this tangle of legal and financial processes can be tricky to navigate – especially if you’re unprepared. What exactly is probate court? Let’s take a closer look at what probate court is and why writing a …
Free legal services for seniors
Seniors have rights – and often need legal assistance, whether regarding justice, crime, guardianship, advance directives or elder abuse. If you need legal resources or pro bono assistance, we’ve put together a list of organizations with free legal services for seniors. Your search for legal assistance can start with these reliable, senior-focused organizations. 1. Justice …
How Much Does Probate Cost?
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Probate can be a costly and lengthy process that millions …
Should I Put My House in a Trust?
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. To understand the advantages and disadvantages of putting your house …
What is a Will Codicil?
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. An estate plan gives you the power to decide how …
Executor of Will Checklist
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. The duty of an executor of a will goes beyond simply …
Burial Insurance: Everything You Need to Know
If you have an elderly loved one, you may be considering burial insurance. This is a type of life insurance that specifically covers final expenses. A 2020 report on life insurance policyholders found that 84% of those that buy life insurance, do so to cover end-of-life expenses. Considering that the majority of people who have …
Irrevocable Trust Taxes
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. The irrevocable trust is a common estate planning tool. While …
Filial Responsibility — the Duty of Adult Children
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Taking care of an aging parent can be difficult even …
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Can a Nursing Home Take All Your Assets?
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. A growing number of United States residents are seeking long-term …
Guardianship of an Elder
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. As our loved one’s age, many caregivers may find themselves …
Elder Law Attorneys: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are someone who is taking care of a senior or has an elderly loved one, you should consider working with an elder law attorney. Though you may not expect it, individuals begin to face new and more complex legal concerns as they get older. Actions that may have seemed trivial when they were …
Intestate Succession—Dying Without a Will
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Death can be an uncomfortable topic. It is one many …
All About Bypass Trusts
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. As discussed in previous articles, creating a comprehensive estate plan …
What is a DNR order?
Your loved one’s wishes during the final stage of life are important. There are a range of health, legal and moral considerations to keep in mind. In particular, your loved one’s quality of life during the end-of-life stage is a priority. A DNR is a big part of that comfort. Some seniors may wish to forgo …
Life Estate Deeds: Are they right for me?
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. We have highlighted common instruments (such as trusts, wills, and …
Miller Trusts: What They Are and How to Create One
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. After retirement, many adults enroll in Medicare or Medicaid for …
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How Powers of Attorney (POAs) May Be Revoked
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. A power of attorney (“POA”) can be an important tool …
Understanding the Differences Between Wills and Trusts
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Choosing the proper estate plan for you and your family …
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Signs That You Will Be Approved for Disability
If you are applying for disability, the Social Security Administration is the government body that decides whether or not you will be approved. During the initial application, only 35% of the claims they receive are approved for disability. This statistic comes straight from the SSA and shows us just how difficult it is to be …
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Plan
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. There are many types of estate planning documents you can …
A General Explanation of Power of Attorney (POAs)
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. You may have an estate planning instrument, such as a …
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A Not So “Crummey” Trust
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. When creating a comprehensive estate plan, it is important to …
Understanding Trust Beneficiaries
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Trusts are common estate planning instruments used to manage and …
Elder Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes
This article has been reviewed by a practicing attorney in 2020 This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of an attorney or another qualified legal professional with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Moving a loved one into a nursing home can be …
Transfer on Death Deeds: A Complete Overview
Deciding how you want your assets and estate distributed on your death can be an emotional task. Analyzing the legal mechanisms to accomplish this task can be overwhelming and exhausting. You want to be sure your assets will be distributed in accordance with your final wishes, but you also do not want to burden your …