Americans aged five or older with special needs make up the largest minority in America, with 58 million people. The majority of federal and state benefits available to help persons with disabilities are needs-based, meaning income and assets are strictly…
Protecting your children's and grandchildren's inheritances from creditors should be a part of your estate plan. A simple way to achieve inheritance protection is through a trust. A trust can pass your wealth bypassing probate. This allows specific trust provisions…
Dementia often leaves elderly people unprepared for future care. If you or someone you love has received a dementia diagnosis, begin immediately to discuss and seek guidance for future care. For help in implementing the steps that need to be…
As you may recall, in 2007, hotel heiress Leona Helmsley left $12 million in a trust fund for the care of her Maltese puppy "Trouble." The Value of an Animal Trust for Your Pet For those who care about the…
As far as estate planning and elder law are concerned, they serve different functions with some overlap, yet they are both equally important to protect you and your family. The two terms tend to go hand in hand, but there…
ABA explains that probate is a legal process that gives legal recognition to a will, appoints the executor to administer the estate, and appoints the personal representative (executive) to distribute property. Navigating the probate process will vary according to state…
Most of the traditional estate planning elements are obsolete when it comes to digital assets. Crypto-assets may comprise significant individual wealth in the forms of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and noncurrency blockchain tokens. If you own any of these asset classes,…
In spite of the popularity of aging in place, many of us face the issue of what to do when we notice an elderly relative is having trouble living safely at home. Troublesome signs like a dirty home in poor…
When you have a special needs child in your family, there are two main ways to use life insurance. In one situation, parents may consider purchasing life insurance for their child’s life, addressing the possibility of outliving them. Alternatively, parents…
Losing a spouse or long-term partner makes it hard to think beyond your grief. However, it is crucial to understand there are important and timely decisions you need to make regarding your finances and personal estate plan. In truth, estate…