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.
Donating your body for science

Donating Your Body For Science Could Save Lives

The last part of the Connecticut Advance Healthcare Directive form includes a section that begins “I hereby make this anatomical gift…” The section includes several boxes to check to make a choice about which organs the person wants to donate and for what reasons…

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push back the closing date

The Truth About The Closing Date

As most of you who have purchased a home knows, the process to get to the closing date is not always smooth. There are many steps along the way to the closing, including inspections, title searches, and mortgage approval. How Does a Closing Date Work? The Agreement spells out how long the buyer has to…

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money gift tax

Does The Gift Tax Exclusion Apply To Medicaid?

Can you gift $10,000 a year without a penalty? For tax purposes yes, with the Gift Tax Exclusion. With the holidays around the corner and the end of the year fast approaching, many of you may be thinking about making gifts for your children and grandchildren. If you want to avoid paying a gift tax…

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primary v contingent beneficiary

Primary v Contingent Beneficiary

What Is The Difference Between Primary v Contingent Beneficiaries? A primary beneficiary is a person or entity who is first in line to receive assets upon the death of the policyholder or account owner. A contingent beneficiary is a person or entity who is next in line to receive the assets if the primary beneficiary…

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reverse mortgage means losing equity

Is a Reverse Mortgage a Good Idea? Pros and Cons to Consider

As part of our elder law and long-term care planning practice, we often recommend a reverse mortgage to our clients. And we are often met with resistance. One of the most common misconceptions about reserve mortgages is that if someone obtains this type of mortgage, all hope of ever having any equity to pass to…

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