by Christine | Apr 14, 2015 | Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Estates, Living Trust, Probate, Trusts, Widow, Wills |
As Mary Todd Lincoln’s character in “The Widow Lincoln” faces dozens of unpaid bills for home furnishings, clothes and jewelry, she asks, “How will I ever pay these debts? I am nothing. I am no one.” On top of moving out of the White House, mothering her sons and...
by Christine | Apr 13, 2015 | Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estates, Long Term Care, Long Term Care Insurance, Nursing Homes, Retirement Planning |
When asked about long-term care insurance, one senior said, "I've thought about it. I don't think it's worthwhile to buy at my age." She's 83. "I've thought about it but I really haven't looked into it," another woman said....
by Christine | Apr 10, 2015 | Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Incapacity, Inheritance, Living Trust, Probate, Trusts, Wills |
In part due to questions about his true intentions as expressed in his will and trust, Brando’s estate was involved in more than two dozens lawsuits by 2009 — five years after his death. He passed away on July 1, 2004, at 80 years of age, suffering from a host of...
by Christine | Apr 9, 2015 | Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Estates, Living Trust, Power of Attorney, Tax Planning, Trusts, Wills |
Dr. Richard Grossman amassed his fortune as the founder of the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, one of the first to use a hyperbaric chamber to prevent infections in burn victims and speed their recovery. He retired from his medical practice in 2013. Lawyers for...
by Christine | Apr 8, 2015 | Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Plan, Estate Planning, Incapacity, Living Trust, Power of Attorney, Probate, Trusts, Wills |
Ernie Banks died on January 23rd at age 83 from a heart condition. Interestingly, his death certificate listed dementia as a “significant condition contributing” to his death. Why is that important? Well, three months before he died, Banks signed a new...
by Christine | Apr 7, 2015 | Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estates, Living Trust, Long Term Care, Medi-Cal, Medi-Cal Long Term Care, Nursing Homes, Trusts |
One attorney calls it the "Get out of Dodge plan"—the best way to keep your assets intact before applying for Medicaid (Medi-Cal in CA) to cover nursing home costs. New Jersey is one of the most restrictive states when it comes to permitting residents to...
by Christine | Apr 6, 2015 | Asset Protection, Divorce, Durable Power of Attorney For Finances, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estates, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Living Trust, Probate, Trusts, Wills |
Failure to do so — or to alert all relevant parties to the changes — could result in certain assets and benefits unintentionally going to your former spouse or his or her family upon your death. A MarketWatch article, titled “Just divorced? Don’t forget to separate...
by Christine | Apr 3, 2015 | Advanced Health Care Directive, Asset Protection, Durable Power of Attorney For Finances, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estates, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Living Trust, Probate, Trusts, Wills |
While not all encompassing, these guides serve as a starting point to help your parents. There are many family dynamics at play when these types of planning conversations arise, so you need to be cognizant of patterns and relationships. Starting earlier will reap...
by Christine | Apr 2, 2015 | Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estates, Living Trust, Long Term Care, Long Term Care Insurance, Medi-Cal, Medi-Cal Long Term Care, Medicaid, Nursing Homes, Trusts |
Seniors need to have a plan in place for long-term care, should they need care assistance in the future. A recent article in The Victoria (TX) Advocate titled “How does Medicaid factor into financial planning?” recommends that seniors need a strategy to pay for the...
by Christine | Apr 1, 2015 | Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Living Trust, Trusts, Wills |
People have many options today for creating their own estate planning documents. Forms can be purchased quickly from websites and books. However, trying to create your own estate plan can actually be more expensive than hiring an attorney. Everyone knows that...
