Author Archives: Linda Fisher
Estate Planning Basics for Difficult Times
Most people who contract COVID-19 experience mild symptoms, but it does not hurt to be prepared just in case you need to be hospitalized, explains the article “A Guide to Estate Planning During the Coronavirus Pandemic” from HuffPost.com. It is scary to think about being so sick that you aren’t able to make decisions… Read More »
Must Seniors at Care Facilities Sign over Stimulus Checks?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that some states across the country have received reports of nursing homes and assisted living facilities that have falsely said that COVID-19 stimulus checks are “resources, ” under the rules of federal benefit programs that must be used to pay for services. It’s “not just a horror… Read More »
Alzheimer’s, Dementia and other Brain Diseases Require Special Estate Planning Steps
There are certain steps that can be taken by individuals, loved ones and family members to make this challenging time safer and smarter, advises an article “Financial And Estate Planning Steps To Take Now: Special Considerations For Those With Brain Disease” from Forbes. Anyone living with a neurologic condition needs to be sure their… Read More »
How Does a Spendthrift Trust Protect Heirs from Themselves?
This is not an unusual question for most estate planning lawyers—and in most cases, the children aren’t bad. They just lack self-control or have a history of making poor decisions. Fortunately, there are solutions, as described in a recent article titled “Estate Planning: What to do to protect trusts from a spendthrift” from NWI.com…. Read More »
What’s the Difference between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts?
A trust is an estate planning tool that you might discuss with an experienced estate planning attorney, beyond drafting a last will and testament. KAKE.com’s recent article entitled “Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts” explains that a living trust can be revocable or irrevocable. You can act as your own trustee or designate another person. The… Read More »
Use a Personal Property Memorandum in Conjunction with Your Will or Trust
Family members often end up arguing over mom or dad’s favorite items when that parent dies. Arguments can take place over things like a coffee mug, a piece of jewelry or a painting. These types of arguments can be eliminated by filling out a personal property memorandum and keeping it with your will or… Read More »
The Hardest Question: Who Draws the Line?
In this Covid-19 epidemic, a wrenching question especially demands an answer: if you or someone you love is taken down into life-threatening illness, how far would you want extreme life-prolonging measures to be tried? For us who are particularly vulnerable – seniors, those with compromised immune systems, those already struggling with medical conditions –… Read More »
Writing a Letter of Intent For Your Special Needs Child
Writing a letter of intent (LOI) for your special needs child can help bring them family continuity and comfort after you are gone. As a parent, the most valuable asset your child has is you and your ability to care for them. You, like no other, fully understand the nuances of your child’s coping… Read More »
Alzheimer’s Disease Medicare, Medicaid, and Out of Pocket Costs
The Alzheimer’s Association has published its 2020 report entitled Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (alz.org). The findings give pause when contemplating the future of many Americans who will be living with crippling dementia. Health care and long-term care costs for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are staggering as dementia is one… Read More »
Telehealth Replaces Many In-Person Medical Appointments
Through the use of videoconferencing over wireless devices and remote health tech monitoring, telehealth can connect patients to vital health care services. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), fully 76 percent of US hospitals are using some form of telehealth for their patient groups. During this COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has freed… Read More »