I always liked receiving those statements in the mail every year detailing my Social Security benefits. It reminded me that, yes, some of the money I paid in taxes that year would eventually come back to me when I retire. Sure, I could have registered to view my benefits online, but I just liked getting… Read More »
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Got Arthritis? Get Milk.
It is estimated that more than a third of adults over the age of 65 have a degenerative joint disease known as osteoarthritis. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis of the knee is particularly severe and common in older women. I recently came across an article in the AARP newsletter… Read More »
How Reverse Mortgages Can Lead To Problems For Your Children
According to a recent New York Times article, children of parents who took out reverse mortgages to cover the cost of long-term care are increasingly faced with a difficult choice—watching helplessly as the family home goes into foreclosure, or losing their inheritances to pay back the loan and protect the home. While there is no… Read More »
The Dangers Of Using Cookie-Cutter, Downloadable Legal Forms
When people learn that I am an estate planning and elder law attorney, some of them ask what I think about “do it yourself” wills, trusts, and other estate planning forms that can be found online. Of course, when I tell them that it is advisable to hire an attorney, it sounds rather self-serving. A… Read More »
Senior Dating—Tips To Help You “Get Your Groove” Back
One of the most rewarding aspects of being an elder law and estate planning attorney is that I get to develop strong relationships with my clients. To create a sound plan, I need to know my clients well. Many clients often become close friends, and we talk about a wide range of personal matters. Some… Read More »
Income Tax Benefits Available To Families With Special Needs Children
As the cost to care for children with special needs continues to rise, parents need all the help they can get. Unfortunately, as many as 15% to 30% of parents with a special needs child are not taking full advantage of tax benefits available to them, according to a recent article in the Journal of… Read More »
Family Heirlooms—How Much Are They Worth?
When a loved one dies, he or she leaves behind much more than assets in a will or trust. There are treasured memories, of course. And what about all the “stuff” that Mom or Dad accumulated over the years? Many of these items have sentimental value at the very least, and others might have monetary… Read More »
Rules Governing Care Of Dementia Patients In Massachusetts Amended
Workers in nursing home dementia care units will now have to receive eight hours of initial training plus four hours of additional training every year, according to rules recently adopted by state regulators. The new regulations also require such facilities to have, at the very least, one therapeutic activities director. The therapeutic activities director is… Read More »
Who Should Get What: Factors To Consider When Leaving Unequal Inheritances To Your Children
When many parents create an estate plan, they simply divide their assets equally among all their children. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this, in some situations it might not be the best, or even the fairest, approach. For example, one of your children may earn significantly more money than your other children. One… Read More »
Lessons In Estate Planning From Deceased Celebrities
Many of us think, “If I was rich and famous, I wouldn’t have a care in the world.” However, as the recent passing of two Hollywood stars shows us, when it comes to estate planning we all grapple with similar concerns and hopes for our loved ones. Consider the case of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who… Read More »