In December 2018, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had a nasty surprise for Laura Marshall (not her real name), a 74-year-old woman just scraping by in senior citizen housing in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. The agency demanded that she repay more than $10,000 in benefits, claiming that she owned two properties — one in…
Details
Preparing for a baby comes with a long list of things to do. You may be setting up the nursery, choosing a pediatrician, arranging childcare, reviewing health insurance, and making sure you have everything you need for those first few weeks at home. One important item that is easy to overlook is estate planning. Estate…
Details
The federal government has expanded access to protections for the non-borrowing spouse of a reverse mortgage holder who is not named in the loan document, allowing more such spouses the ability to stay in their home if the borrowing spouse dies or moves to a care facility. Reverse Mortgage Protection Prior To 2014 A reverse…
DetailsRELEASE: Connecticut’s elder law attorneys group elects new leadership The Connecticut chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (CT-NAELA) announced that new members have been elected to key leadership posts. Attorney Joan Reed Wilson, the managing partner of RWC, LLC Attorneys and Counselors at Law, has been selected as president-elect. Who Is Attorney…
Details
There Are Two Basic Types of Conservatorships In Connecticut One to manage the conserved person’s financial affairs (Conservator of the Estate) and one to manage their personal affairs (conservator of the Person). The Probate Court may appoint two separate individuals to perform these roles or one person to oversee both. Conservator of The Estate The…
Details
President Biden has introduced a plan to spend $400 billion over eight years on home health care and community-based care for elders and people with disabilities. The money would go to expand access to care and support higher-paying caregiving jobs. As the elder population grows, our long-term care system is becoming increasingly strained. The AARP found…
Details
What Is a Living Trust? A living trust is an agreement in which a settlor (the person who creates the trust) appoints a trustee, to manage the assets within the trust, on behalf of the beneficiary or beneficiaries named in it. The beneficiary can be you or anyone else you name. It’s called a “living…
Details
Understanding the Connecticut Probate Process Losing a loved one is never easy. In the days and weeks that follow, family members are often faced with legal and financial responsibilities they never expected to handle. One of the first terms many people encounter is probate, and for those unfamiliar with the process, it can feel confusing…
Details
Buying real estate is one of the largest financial decisions most people will ever make. Whether you’re purchasing a home with your spouse, a family member, or a business partner, one important decision is often overlooked: How should you hold title to the property? The way ownership is listed on the deed determines what happens…
Details
Today’s video talks about the language of a statutory power of attorney document and the limitations it has when it comes “self dealing”. Essentially, your Power of attorney may not have the ability to transfer assets to themselves. This becomes a problem when you have a couple who are each other’s POAs. I hope this…
Details