As federal estate tax laws, gifts, and GST exemptions fluctuate, it may be necessary to update your estate plan annually. Since 2018, federal tax assessment on estates above $11.7 million, indexed for inflation every year, will default back to pre-2018 exemption…
Your loved one's well-being is dependent upon your advocacy in a nursing home. Residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are disproportionately affected by the flu, pneumonia, COVID 19, and other contagious diseases. According to the American Family…
Child support payments typically provide a smoother adjustment to changes in family structure, continuity, and financial stability, lowering the entire family’s stress levels. These payments, designed to benefit a child of divorce, tend to positively impact their overall well-being, school…
Estate planning is often viewed as a once-off task that can be filed away once completed. However, without being aware of the potential impact, people will make gifts during their lifetime or change listed beneficiaries on accounts which can have enormous…
When you die, your assets and property are not distributed according to your living will. Instead, it is a mechanism to communicate to your family and doctors how you want medical care conducted when you aren't able. Your living will is…
Almost everyone has heard of trusts, typically in reference to someone or something who is the beneficiary of one. Some may believe that only wealthy people have trusts, but they are common and useful tools when creating estate plans of all…
You can appoint a trusted individual to make decisions or conduct transactions on your behalf using a power of attorney. They could be related to personal finances, business operations, or medical needs and used for a single immediate purpose or an…
There have been dramatic changes in family structures for the past fifty years. Social and demographic changes of the late twentieth century and into the twenty-first see more cohabitating couples, same-sex couples, and increasing numbers of single-parent families and extended…
ABA describes probate as the legal process by which a will is given formal recognition and a personal representative (executor) is appointed to administer the estate. Navigating the probate process will vary according to state law. Therefore, it is good to…
The elder law area encompasses a wide range of legal matters that affect older people or disabled individuals. Attorneys who practice elder law advocate for, and create legal plans to assist, seniors and their loved ones in living better lives. Elder…