REAL ESTATE NEWS: New Property Condition Disclosure Form

On August 8, 2018   /   Our Blog, Real Estate  
REAL ESTATE NEWS: New Property Condition Disclosure Form

By: Joan Reed Wilson, Esq.      Effective August 10, 2018, the Connecticut Residential Property Condition Disclosure Form has changed. The revised form applies to all residential real estate listed on or after August 10, 2018. The old form will expire on August 9, 2018. The law still requires the seller to credit the purchaser $500 at closing if the seller fails to provide the disclosure form.  Click here to see the new form.       The Connecticut Association of Realtors has prepared a summary of the changes.

Read more →
Back to Top

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

On April 27, 2018   /   Elder Law, Our Blog  

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that beginning in 2019, Medicare Advantage plans will cover supplemental non-skilled home benefits that include daily maintenance. This is the first time that CMA has allowed a service that covers daily maintenance to be eligible as a supplemental benefit. The Agency stated that “under the new definition, the agency will allow supplemental benefits if they compensate for physical impairments, diminish the impact of injuries or health conditions, and/or reduce avoidable emergency room utilization.” “Our priority is to ensure that our seniors have more choices and lower premiums in

Read more →
Back to Top

SENIOR TAX RELIEF PROGRAM APPLICATION INFORMATION

On April 14, 2018   /   Elder Law, Our Blog, Real Estate  

SENIOR TAX RELIEF PROGRAM 2018 By: Joan Reed Wilson, Attorney at Law The State of Connecticut Homeowner’s Tax Relief Program provides real estate tax relief for seniors and disabled homeowners who qualify. Qualification depends on the homeowner’s age and gross income. If you or someone you know is over age 65 (or has been deemed disabled) and had income in 2017 that was less than$43,000 (married) or $35,300 (unmarried), be sure to visit your Town’s Assessor with your completed 2017 tax return as soon as possible to complete the necessary application. The application period expires on May 15, 2018.   For more

Read more →
Back to Top

Am I the Only Lawyer Without a Will?

On February 19, 2016   /   Estate Planning, Our Blog  

It is about that time of year that most of our New Year Resolutions have gone by the wayside. I am not big on resolutions, but admit to having a few. Some were business oriented, including a promise to myself to update our law firm blog more frequently with interesting and informative articles. Others were more personal. So as I write tonight, I have decided to get back to those resolutions and kill two birds with one stone. To do so, I need to make a confession. Well, two confessions. The first is that this is the first article I

Read more →
Back to Top

Proposed Changes to Veteran’s Benefits Could Affect Elderly

On February 9, 2015   /   Elder Law, Life Care Planning, Our Blog  

The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension provides benefits for qualified veterans and their surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of personal hygiene (known as Activities of Daily Living). This could include home care or care in a facility. There are several levels of qualification. Currently, in very general terms, the veteran must have served in active duty for at least 90 days, one of which must have been during a defined wartime period, a physician must verify that the applicant requires

Read more →
Back to Top

Tips for Dealing with Post Divorce Conflict

On December 29, 2014   /   Divorce, Mediation, Our Blog  

So your agreement is signed and approved by a judge who declared you single – you leave the courthouse thankful that you will never step foot in it again.  Unfortunately, many divorced couples find themselves back in family court for a variety of reasons.  A large part of my practice consists of post judgment contempt matters and modification of custody arrangements.  I find, more often than not, that these matters can be more adversarial and more costly to my clients than the divorce itself.  There are some simple ways to avoid unnecessary conflict when facing post-divorce issues: The simplest way

Read more →
Back to Top

Are You in Your Right Mind? (or Left?)

On October 25, 2014   /   Divorce, Our Blog  

When I was about to marry my first husband, we were given a Myers-Briggs personality test by the priest who was to marry us to predict our compatibility.  I do not recall what the results were, but I seem to remember a look of disappointment? (or maybe fear?) on the face of that priest.  Since I have already said that he was my first husband, you can guess how things worked out.  Now, I am not saying that a standardized test or left/right brain thinking differences can predict the success or failure of your marriage or even how a couple will

Read more →
Back to Top