Many families mistakenly believe that receiving an inherited property is as simple as listening to a reading of the Will and then that property magically belongs to you and you can do whatever you want with it. Sorry to burst that bubble, but a reading of the will is not a real thing – that’s…
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Every year Medicare gives beneficiaries a window of opportunity to shop around and determine if their current Medicare plan is still the best one for them. During Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, beneficiaries can freely enroll in or switch plans. During this period, you may enroll in a…
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FALSE FACT FRIDAY IS BACK! “If I Give My Assets Away, I Have to Live for At Least Five Years” Part of my estate planning practice includes asset protection planning. Many of my clients are interested in protecting their assets for their children. They know, either through personal experience or their own research, that the…
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Reports of elder financial abuse continue to increase, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to scams or to financial abuse by family members in need of money. It is hard to ascertain the exact numbers of people affected by elder abuse because studies show that elder abuse is underreported. However, one study found that financial loss from financial elder…
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Creating a children’s trust does not mean you are creating irresponsible teenagers, driving fancy cars, and vacationing in Caan for the weekend. You may be picturing the old school version of a “trust fund kid”. Don’t worry, I was too. But children’s trusts are not just for the wealthy anymore, it’s a smart estate planning…
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As COVID-19 cases start to rise again due to the highly contagious Delta variant, nursing homes are considering requiring staff members to be vaccinated. Only 59 percent of nursing home staff are partially or fully vaccinated nationwide, and the percentages are much lower in some states. While 81 percent of nursing home residents are fully…
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Attorney Joan Reed Wilson, the managing partner of RWC, LLC Attorneys and Counselors at Law, has been appointed to the Task Force To Study Ways To Protect Senior Citizens From Fraud, by Speaker of The House, Matthew Ritter. Attorney Wilson was recommended by representative Quentin Phipps, who currently serves as the co-chair of the aging…
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Most adult children feel the need and responsibility to take care of their aging parents if they become unable to care for themselves. Family caregivers are often unpaid, which seems fine initially, but this role can become more difficult as time goes by. If the parent’s needs cause the child to miss work or have…
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Britney Spears’s legal fight to take back control over her personal and financial affairs has put a spotlight on the issue of guardianship. While full guardianship may be necessary for many individuals who are incapable of managing their own affairs due to dementia or intellectual, developmental or mental health disabilities, the Spears case underlines the…
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What Is Per Stirpes? “Per stirpes” is a legal term (which in Latin means “by branch”) usually included in the Last Will and Testament or beneficiary designations for individual retirement accounts (IRAs). By branch, as in down the family tree branches. If a beneficiary (someone who would receive an inheritance), predeceases (dies before) the testator…
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