Estate planning, elder law, family transitions, business planning – the legal issues that affect your family are always evolving. Jennifer writes regularly to keep you informed, educated, and empowered. Browse the latest articles below, or search by topic to find what you’re looking for.
Like most governmental benefit programs, there are many myths surrounding Medicaid and eligibility for benefits. One of the most common myths is the belief that only 50% of the funds in a jointly-owned bank account will be considered an asset for the purposes of calculating Medicaid eligibility. Medicaid is a needs-based program that is administered by the...
With such similar sounding names, many people mistake Medicare and Medicaid programs for one another, or presume the programs are as similar as their names. While both are government-run programs, there are many important differences. Medicare provides senior citizens, the disabled and the blind with medical benefits. Medicaid, on the other hand, provides...
This question presents a fairly common issue posed to estate planning attorneys. The solution is also pretty easy to address in your will, trust and other estate planning documents, including any guardianship appointment for your minor children. First, it is important to note that you should not delay establishing an estate plan pending the birth of a new...
When it comes to estate planning, many individuals believe that dividing assets equally among adult children is the best choice. However, there are situations in which leaving each child the same amount might not be practical. For this reason, it is important to know the difference between an equal inheritance and an equitable inheritance, in which each...
Timeshares are a popular piece of property for people who enjoy vacationing. But timeshares can create complications when it comes to estate planning. If you have a timeshare you need to consider how it will be handled in the event of your death. You may have some options in how to handle the transfer. It is important to investigate what documents the...
Properly drafted estate planning documents are integral to the success of your legacy and end-of-life wishes. Iron-clad estate planning documents, written by a knowledgeable attorney can make the difference between the success and failure of having your wishes carried out. However, there’s more to estate planning than paperwork. For your wishes to have the...
Imagine if writing a last will and testament were a pre-requisite to graduating from high school. The graduate walks across the stage, hands the completed will to the principal, and gets the diploma in return. Now that might seem a little extreme, but the truth of the matter is all adults should complete some basic estate planning. Think you don’t need an...
So, you have a will, but is it valid? A will can be contested for a multitude of reasons after it is presented to a probate court. It is in your best interest to have an attorney draft the will to prevent any ambiguity in the provisions of the document that others could dispute later. A will may be targeted on grounds of fraud, mental incapacity,...
If a person becomes mentally or physically handicapped and can no longer make rational decisions about their person or their finances, his or her loved ones may consider a guardianship or a conservatorship court proceeding. In a guardianship an individual known as a guardian is court appointed to make decisions concerning the physical person of the...
A durable power of attorney is an important part of an estate plan. With a power of attorney a preselected agent can be granted power over the financial affairs of the individual signing the document. This power can be limited to specific decisions, like handling the closing of a real estate sale, or it can be much broader in scope to allow the agent power...
While the main objective of estate planning is to help individuals protect their assets and provide for loved ones, there are other important considerations, such as planning for incapacity. In short, it is crucial to plan for the type of medical care people wish to receive if a serious accident or illness makes them unable to make or communicate these...
We all need a Will if we have any assets that we are going to leave behind but often extra care is not taken with specific instructions. These specific instructions could have a life changing difference to your children which are without a doubt your biggest asset, no matter how wealthy you are. Often the planning of your estate is something that we spend...