Sometimes people consider estate planning to be a fairly simple thing to do themselves without the need to consult an attorney. After all, estate planning documents are merely paper, right? Well, although estate planning documents are indeed merely paper with printed words, there is an important thought process behind what should or should not be […]
When people think about estate planning, and specifically about who they would like to receive their assets when they are gone, they tend to concentrate on the things that have a high monetary value, like bank accounts, investments, or real estate. But dividing up cash or other liquid assets is the easy part. What is […]
In our last post we provided a brief overview of Care Agreements. This week we consider a recent Louisiana court decision that illustrates a big problem that arises when relatives are paid for providing care services to a loved one and that arrangement is poorly documented. See Widley David v. State of Louisiana Dept. of […]
“Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance – the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it; better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.” -Thomas Carlyle The benefits of a positive attitude are talked about a lot, but today’s research shows evidence that having […]
The Good News and the Bad News Prior to January 2013, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) required recipients of non-service connected benefits to make a mandatory annual filing in order to maintain benefits eligibility. By filing of its so-called Eligibility Verification Renewal forms, beneficiaries provided VA with updated information on the amount […]
As individuals get older, they often need more and more help with their personal and financial needs. It becomes harder to do a whole host of things ranging from paying bills and balancing a checkbook to keeping track of medications, transportation to medical appointments, and bathing. While that help may be delivered by a home […]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, serving over 8.5 million veterans each year. A veteran who served in the active military and was separated from service under any condition other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits. The total number of VA treatment sites is now over 1,400 […]
A 2014 Maine court case illustrates how some families can get into significant arguments over what seems to outside observers to be fairly insignificant things. See Estate of Greenblatt, 86 A.3d 1215 (Me. 2014). In 2008 Ada Greenblatt died childless. Her will provided for specific monetary amounts to two charities and 14 nieces and nephews, […]
U.S. Trust conducts an annual survey of high net worth individuals to prepare a comprehensive report it calls the “Insights on Wealth and Worth” (“Survey”). While there are many fascinating observations and conclusions that may be drawn from the 2014 Survey, we have highlighted a few below that have a direct bearing on our practice […]
Over the years, many women decided that they didn’t want children. Their decision was made not necessarily because they were selfish; many were career-oriented and received fulfillment through their work. But as these women age they wonder who will care for them, especially when they watch their friends’ children help them through illness or life […]