Articles

Last Will and Testament and Gavel

Understanding Probate

Probate is, at the basic level, the process of the court overseeing what happens with a person’s assets or belongings after a person dies. Officially, someone gathers the person’s assets and distributes them to the beneficiaries or heirs. That pe… Read More
guardianship and conservatorship regarding Britney Soears

Guardianships: Valuable Lessons from the Britney Spears Conservatorship

Most everyone at some point over the past several months has heard something about Britney Spears’s conservatorship and her battles with her father, who has been serving as her conservator. Conservators, commonly called guardians in Texas and F… Read More
Protecting a Home

Medicaid Estate Recovery, Your Home, and 8 Trillion Dollars

The need for affordable long-term support services in America has increased dramatically. Costs are exorbitantly expensive whether you struggle to pay premiums for a long-term care insurance policy or monthly bills from a nursing home. The US Departm… Read More
Categories: Elder Law, Senior Issues
Block letters on toy fire truck showing the importance of re-appointing power of attorney after a divorce

Understanding the Power of Attorney

In its various forms, a power of attorney is an essential tool when planning for possible incapacity or if you otherwise need a trusted agent to manage your affairs. This legal document can grant broad authority to one or more agent to transact busin… Read More
Close up of a person writing a letter by hand with a pen

Why a Letter of Intent is Crucial

A letter of intent (LOI) can be a valuable piece in your estate planning, and although it is an informal letter, it can more fully represent your financial and personal intentions after you die. Everyone knows they need to make a will, but this lesse… Read More
LGBTQIA Couple Holding Hands

Estate Planning in the LGBTQIA+ Community: Are There Differences?

Since the 2015 recognition of same-sex marriage being constitutionally protected, same-sex couples who are married have been able to enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to estate planning. But for unmarried couples, careful pl… Read More
Storing Directives on a Smart Phone

Storing Your Health Care Directives on Your Smart Phone? There's an App for That.

More Americans than ever can now store information on smartphones and tablet devices. Whether engaging in online banking, using a mobile plane boarding pass, or creating work calendars shared in the cloud, the internet of things provides needed conne… Read More
Example of Older workers with photo of senior woman in warehouse.

Senior Workers Can Help American Workforce Needs

Although many older Americans want to work, the April 2020 unemployment rate for workers 55 and older rose to 13.6 percent. COVID-19 restrictions and associated layoffs account for some unemployment increase, but so does the lack of employment opport… Read More
naming a beneficiary

Lapse: What Happens to Inheritance if the Beneficiary Dies?

A key part of your estate plan is your will. In addition to identifying who is in charge of handling your estate after your death, your will names who will inherit your property and assets. But what happens if that beneficiary dies before you do? For… Read More
cattle on the family farm

Estate Planning for the Family Farm

Suppose that mother and dad have run the family farm for a long time. Now, though, they’re getting on in years, and they’re considering moving into a smaller place. One of the daughters and her husband help run the farm, but the rest of the sibli… Read More