The majority of American families own a pet. If you are part of this majority, it is important to think about making arrangements for your pets in case you are no longer able to care for them yourself. According to a recent survey, over 63% of pet owners consider their pets to be family members. […]
Weatherby & Associates, P.C. is pleased to announce that attorney Rebecca M. Vicente has been elevated to partner in the firm and will continue to work in the firm’s Bloomfield, Connecticut office. Rebecca’s elevation to partner reflects her status as an integral part of the firm’s practice and her commitment to service and professional ethics. Colleagues value […]
In order to prepare your estate plan, you need to know that your assets can be put into two categories: probate and non-probate assets. Once you understand the difference between these two types of assets, you will be able to make informed decisions about how you wish to distribute your property to your loved ones.Probate […]
One of the benefits of a Revocable Living Trust is that it can be updated when necessary. You may want to update your trust to comply with new laws or to reflect changes in your wishes or your life circumstances. In order to take advantage of this benefit, you should review your trust periodically to see if […]
Identifying and Avoiding Caregiver Burnout Many of our clients are caring for or being cared for by a loved one. More than 65 million Americans care for family members who need assistance due to chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. These millions of family caregivers may include spouses, parents, or children […]
The End of the Medicare “Improvement Standard” For decades, home-health care agencies and nursing homes have terminated Medicare coverage if patients did not show improvement. This policy was referred to as the Medicare “Improvement Standard.” Nothing in the Medicare regulations stated that improvement was required for continuing coverage. However, the Improvement Standard was regularly applied […]
Planning for Pets: Why a Will Won’t Ensure Your Furry and Feathered Loved Ones Are Taken Care Of According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, 68% of U.S. households include at least one pet. Those of us with pets often think of them as members of the family. However, pets usually […]
Ancillary Probate: What It Is and How to Avoid It Probate is the process by which a court grants a person authority to deal with property owned by a deceased individual (“decedent”). If this person was named in the decedent’s will, he or she is called the executor or the personal representative of the decedent’s […]
Recent Case Raises Concerns about Certain Transfers of Assets by a Medicaid Applicant to a Community Spouse: Many Medicaid applicants who need care in a nursing home have spouses who are able to continue living at home (“Community Spouses”). There are guidelines that allow a Community Spouse to keep a certain amount of income and […]
What to Consider When Firearms Are Part of Your Probate Estate If you are a gun owner in Connecticut, you have probably been thinking about how the state’s new gun laws will impact you. As you take steps to ensure you are complying with the new laws, take some time to consider how you are […]