Every September, as the leaves start to change and the air turns crisper, we are presented with a unique opportunity – Self-Improvement Month. This month encourages us to embark on a transformative journey toward becoming the best version of ourselves. It’s a time to reflect on our goals, identify areas for growth, and take meaningful…
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A Guide for Realtors and Sellers Last year we wrote an article about changes to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide affidavit that State law requires sellers of residential real property to provide to their buyers at closing. For Connecticut residential real estate closings occurring after October 1, 2023, there is yet another significant change to…
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P – R – I – V – A – C – Y The legal case for the Estate of Aretha Franklin ended yesterday with a finding that her hand-written 2014 Will that was found under a couch cushion is her valid Will. According to her long-time attorney, Aretha Franklin was too private to rely…
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Who’s Making The Decisions Around Here??? Let’s start at the very beginning. When a baby is born, the child’s parents make decisions for her. And as she ages into a toddler, child, and teenager, the parents have full legal authority. When the child turns 18, the parents DO NOT have the authority to make decisions.…
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What’s As-Is Got To Do With It? In this seller’s real estate market, you may be seeing more real estate listings that include the phrase “as-is”. Typically, when a property is listed “as-is,” it implies that the seller does not want to invest time or money into addressing any problems with the property. What is…
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It has been nearly five years since the VA rules for Aid & Attendance benefits changed drastically. Among other things, the new rule imposed a 3-year look back for transfers of assets, including gifts to persons, trusts or purchases of annuities, deny claims for up to 10 years due to transfer and exempt the value…
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Turning 18 is a major milestone in a person’s life, and with it comes new responsibilities and legal rights. One important aspect of becoming an adult is ensuring that you have the necessary legal documents in place to protect yourself and your future. Here are two must-have legal documents that every 18-year-old should sign. Why…
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Happy May! The month of Elder Law awareness. To begin the month, we wanted to discuss legal capacity and dementia. We sometimes hear from clients or their loved ones that they believe that a diagnosis of dementia means that the person cannot execute estate planning documents. This is not necessarily true. What Is Legal Capacity…
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Connecticut’s Senior Real Estate Tax Relief Program: Do You Qualify? April is the time of year that most of us think about taxes and now that the tax deadline is passed, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to save money, especially with the increase in the cost of staples like…
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Next up in our series about real estate closings, let’s define the important terms included in the real estate contract. First, it is important to know that any contract (and any changes to a contract) for real estate MUST BE IN WRITING because of a law called the Statute of Frauds. The Statute of Frauds…
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