Joan Reed Wilson Esq. - Managing Partner Practices in the areas of estate planningelder law, Medicaid planning, conservatorships, probate and trust administration, and real estate. Admitted to practice in the States of Connecticut and California, she is the President of the CT Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), an active member of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, accredited with the PLAN of CT for Pooled Trusts, with the Veteran’s Administration to assist clients with obtaining Aid & Attendance benefits for long-term care needs and with the Agency on Aging’s CareLink Network.
Sign a DNR in Connecticut - wear a DNR bracelet

Do You Sign a DNR With Your Lawyer?

What is a DNR? “DNR” stands for Do Not Resuscitate and means that if you stop breathing, you will not be resuscitated. Most, otherwise healthy people, would want to be resuscitated if they collapsed and stopped breathing, for example, if they had a heart attack. Those who are terminally ill and are suffering may choose…

Read more
Choose your own probate attorney

Can You Choose Your Own Probate Attorney?

In the past week, we have received calls from two different clients whom we had helped in the past. Each of them called because they were in the process of probating their parent’s estates and both were quite frustrated and wanted our advice regarding the probate attorney they had to use. They each said that…

Read more
Medicare Savings Program

Medicare Savings Programs 2019 Threatened Again

The Fall of 2019 brought uncertainty to the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) in Connecticut when they were unexpectedly slashed by the state budget. After several months of negotiations, a bipartisan effort was able to revive the program that affects so many seniors. What Are Medicare Savings Programs? The Medicare Savings Programs in Connecticut are benefits…

Read more
Estate Tax Return

Does a Surviving Spouse Have To File An Estate Tax Return?

Will You Owe Taxes On Your Spouse’s Estate? Currently, the estate tax exemption in Connecticut is $12.92 million per person. So although an Estate Tax Return must be filed for every decedent, tax is due from very few estates. And even if the decedent’s assets exceeded $12,920,000, there is an unlimited marital deduction, so if…

Read more
family eating outside - tips to avoid family squabbles

Ten Timely Tips To Avoid Family Squabbles In Estate Planning

In our estate planning, probate, and elder law practice here at Reed Wilson Case we often see family squabbles that erupt because of unmet expectations. Many of these expectations involve emotionally valuable personal property. And many of them erupt after the passing of a loved one.   Related Post: What To Include In A Will…

Read more
Protect Your Money From Nursing Homes

Do You Need To Protect Your Money From Nursing Homes?

FALSE FACT Vol. 1, Issue 1:   If you don’t protect your money, the State will take it.  This is probably the most common “inaccurate” statement that I hear in my elder law practice. We do help clients protect their assets, but not because the State will take them if you don’t protect them. Welcome to…

Read more