When two or more individuals own property — whether it’s a condo, a home, or a piece of land — the relationship between the owners is very important. The form of ownership of the property affects how property is transferred to someone else. It is important to make sure you have the right form of ownership […]
If you are in the hospital, the last thing you want is for a family member or a trusted friend to be denied information about your condition or prognosis. But this could happen if you haven’t already given authorization about who can receive details of your medical condition. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act […]
An executor is the person responsible for managing the administration of a deceased person’s estate. One of the executor’s main jobs is to pay people or institutions to whom the estate owes money — the estate’s creditors. This can be an overwhelming task, especially when dealing with the death of a loved one, but it is […]
One important reason to have a will is to be able to name your executor (also called a personal representative). An executor is the person responsible for managing the administration of your estate after you die. If you don’t choose an executor, the court will choose one for you. The first decision is whether to […]
When creating an estate plan, an important decision is who to name as your fiduciary. A fiduciary is a fancy legal term for the person who will take care of your property for you if you are unable to do it yourself, such as the executor of an estate, the trustee of a trust, or […]
Being the executor of an estate is not a task to take lightly. An executor is the person responsible for managing the administration of a deceased individual’s estate. Although the time and effort involved will vary with the size of the estate, even if you are the executor of a small estate you will have […]
On June 26, 2015 United States Supreme Court issued an opinion of great importance in the area of estate planning for same sex couples. In Obergefell v. Hodges the Court addressed two questions. First, does the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution require all states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples? Second, are […]
Summer often brings to mind vacations and taking time off from everyday stress. Caregivers of loved ones living with dementia-related diseases know that caregiving can be a full-time job in addition to the responsibilities associated with employment and raising families. The Alzheimer’s Association really says it best on their page about respite care: “Caregiving is […]
If you are a Medicare beneficiary receiving skilled care for a chronic condition, you no longer have to show improvement in order to have the care covered, but your provider (such as a doctor, home care agency, or nursing home) may not know this. Even though a recent lawsuit settlement mandated a nationwide educational campaign […]
How can you make sure your funeral and burial wishes will be carried out after you die? It is important to let your family know your desires and to put them in writing. Just don’t do it in your will. To help your loved ones follow your wishes after you are gone, you can write […]