Author Archives: Site Administrator
C19 UPDATE: Coronavirus Got You Thinking About a Will? That Might Not Be Enough.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the country, it seems like everyone is thinking they should probably get a will done, just in case. While this renewed attention to estate planning is great, experts at Bankrate.com warn that a will may not be enough. What is a Will? A will is a… Read More »
Why Is Estate Planning more Complicated with a ‘Gray Divorce’?
The increasing divorce rates among Americans over the age of 50 is a problem, because minimizing discord among beneficiaries is one of the top three reasons why people engage in estate planning. The Clare County Review’s recent article entitled “Rising Gray Divorce Rates Are Making Estate Planning Problems More Complicated” notes that along with… Read More »
Can My Heirs Be Handcuffed with an Annuity?
Lifetime income annuities are a type of irrevocable contract with no liquidity, explains, The Street’s recent article entitled, “Handcuffing your beneficiaries with annuities.” Many parents have adult children who are still trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Parents don’t want to hand over a large amount of… Read More »
Common Will Mistakes to Avoid
Dying without a will (or “intestate”) means your estate assets will pass to your heirs, according to the intestacy laws of the state. Under the state’s intestacy provisions, if your spouse is alive, and you had no children (with any person), your assets will pass to your spouse. In many states, if you had… Read More »
C19 UPDATE: CDC Recommends Care Plans for Both Older Adults and Caregivers
Quick. You or your senior loved one is running a fever, coughing and struggling to breathe. You suspect COVID-19 and a full-blown medical emergency starts to unfold. Medical professionals will need to quickly know the patient’s health conditions, medications, healthcare providers and emergency contacts. Are you ready? The Centers for Disease (CDC) recommends developing… Read More »
Nursing Home Care Costs and Applying for Medicaid
Medicaid provides several programs funded through a state-federal agreement, explains the article “Planning a must: Medicaid and paying for nursing homes” from The Dallas Morning News. One of the programs provides long-term nursing home care benefits to pay for nursing home or approved residential care facilities. However, requirements to qualify for Medicaid vary widely… Read More »
Preparing for Coronavirus: The #1 Legal Document Every Adult Needs to
As the coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life and leave Americans uncertain of the future, you don’t have to feel helpless during this pandemic. In fact, now is a great time to be proactive and plan ahead should you or a loved one fall ill. One of the most important and relatively easy things… Read More »
What I Need to Know about Caring for a Loved One with Dementia
Family caregivers of dementia patients must be more prepared for immediate changes in temperament. They need more support and respite care, and they need a better idea of what to expect in the days and months ahead. Forbes’s recent article entitled “When Your Loved One Has Dementia: 3 Questions For Family Caregivers” provided three… Read More »
If Not Now, When? It is the Time for Estate Planning
What else could possibly go wrong? You might not want to ask that question, given recent events. A global pandemic, markets in what feels like free fall, schools closed for an extended period of time—these are just a few of the challenges facing our communities, our nation and our world. The time is now,… Read More »
Preparing for an Emergency Includes Power of Attorney
Unexpected events can happen at any time. Without a backup plan, finances are vulnerable. The importance of having an estate plan and organized legal and financial documents on a scale of one to ten is fifteen, advises the article “Are you prepared to hand over your finances to someone in an emergency?” from USA… Read More »