Is the CSPA Connecticut’s Chapter of the ASPCA? Not exactly. So what is the CSPA and why am I writing about it anyway? CSPA stands for the Community Spouse Protected Amount and the reason my blog focuses on it this month is because the minimum CSPA in Connecticut has been increased to $50,000 effective July…
DetailsPlease join us in congratulations our managing partner, Joan Reed Wilson, who was elected to serve as the President of the CT Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”) for 2023-2024. Attorney Wilson joined NAELA in 2005 and most recently served as Vice President from 2019-2021 and President-elect and the Chairperson of…
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Given the recent unrest regarding the possible overturning of one of the most important laws in Women’s health, it’s important to look deeper into how Constitutional law may affect not only women’s rights over their bodies, but other cornerstone laws as well, and in return Estate Planning at its core. One of my favorite classes…
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If you need a lot of cash on hand upon retirement, Social Security offers a lump-sum retroactive payments option that’s worth six months of benefits. However, it comes at a cost. It is important to understand the details before agreeing to the payment. If you have waited beyond your full retirement age (66 for those…
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To leave a nursing home and return home is a goal for many residents and their families, but it requires careful consideration. While returning home is a good move for some, it won’t work for everyone. A nursing home stay does not have to be permanent. Many residents enter a facility temporarily to recover from…
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Given the current seller’s market, I thought it would be helpful to bring back an article that I posted three years ago. It is about how capital gains relate to real estate sales, but this time with a twist! Does The Capital Gains Tax Law Still Exist? How many of you have heard that you…
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The Biden administration has announced far-reaching nursing home reforms, targeting staffing and accountability at facilities with deficient care. Advocates are calling the proposals, which include the first-ever federal minimum staffing levels, the most significant reforms in decades. Why Is Nursing Home Reform Necessary? Nursing homes have been plagued by chronic understaffing and high turnover rates…
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Clients are often unpleasantly surprised to learn that having a Last Will and Testament does not negate the need for probate. And they are sometimes annoyed when they learn that even though they are named as the Executor in a Will, that alone does not give them authority to access the decedent’s assets. Yet both of these statements are true.
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Working elders without dependents may qualify for the earned income tax credit when they file their 2021 tax returns. The tax credit assists those with low incomes but was previously primarily available to people with young children. How Will The Earned Income Tax Credit Benefit Elders? If you file taxes and your earned income is…
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Recently I had the honor of serving as the co-chair of the Legislative Task Force to Study Ways to Protect Senior Citizens from Fraud. The Task Force was created pursuant to a bill enacted by the Connecticut legislature in 2021 and was comprised of ten individuals appointed by various legislative leaders. Besides myself, the members…
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