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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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like lung, heart, or kidney disease seem to be at a higher risk for contracting COVID more serious COVID-19 illness. This means that most people with Medicare are at higher risk. According to a Wall…
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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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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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Attorney Joan Wilson Elected Vice President of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys RWC, LLC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law is pleased to announce that Attorney Joan Wilson was elected Vice-President of the CT Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”). Attorney Wilson has been a member of NAELA for 15 years…
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A power of attorney automatically terminates after the death of the principal. This means that the agent no longer has any authority to act on behalf of the deceased person. Instead, the executor or personal representative of the deceased person’s estate will take over the management of their affairs. Power of Attorney and When Should…
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What Is The Difference Between DNR and Living Will? A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order is a medical directive that instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR or other life-saving measures if a person’s heart stops or they stop breathing. A living will, on the other hand, is a legal document that outlines a person’s…
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Does Your Will Determine Who Inherits Your Assets When You Die? Last month I discussed how clients are often unpleasantly surprised to learn that having a Last Will and Testament does not negate the need for probate. Many people also incorrectly believe that the Will is KING. They think that the terms of the Will…
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Every year, the Medicare Annual open Enrollment Period (“AEP”) is October 15 – December 7. AEP is the time that Medicare recipients can review and change their Medicare plan if they should choose to do so. FALSE FACTS FRIDAY Issue 11: “I’m Happy with My Medicare Plan, So I Don’t Have to Review It for…
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Have you heard of the “READING OF THE WILL”? Of course, you have! because it has been a scene in many TV shows and movies. After someone dies, the lawyer hosts a meeting in his (usually “his” because, well, you know, but that’s a topic for another time…) office. Everyone who had a relationship with…
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