Will Your Successor Trustee Also Be the Executor of Your Estate?
As complicated as life can be, reconciling an estate after our death can be a tremendous task for surviving loved ones. Even if a person dies leaving a Last Will and Testament (“Will”) that names an executor to oversee the disposition of an estate, assets that are owned in individual name without a beneficiary designation need to go through a legal process
What Is Probate and How To Avoid It
We all know at least one story of a family relationship harmed by a contentious inheritance fight after the death of loved one. The general rule of thumb is the more divided a family is before a person’s death, the more difficult the distribution of an estate becomes afterward. Even under the best of circumstances, reconciling an estate after death often is
Important Changes to Medicare Benefits in Response to COVID-19
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) is the federal agency that oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs. On March 13, 2020, CMS made a number of rule changes that should help streamline the Medicare system for beneficiaries who need to access Medicare benefits during the COVID-19 outbreak. One element of the CMS rule changes will improve Medicare beneficiaries’ access to
When Your Baby Has Special Needs
As a parent, discovering your baby has special needs can be overwhelming. Perhaps it was something you expected because of prenatal testing or birth trauma, or maybe your baby’s disability or diagnosis was discovered because of developmental delays. Either way, it can feel like you’ve been thrust into an advanced parenting class with no preparation. Where do you possibly begin to help
The SECURE Act
Comprehensive federal legislation referred to as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act (the “Secure Act”), became effective on January 1, 2020. The Secure Act makes changes to federal policy which may impact planning related to defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, individual retirement accounts, and 529 plans. This article focuses on certain changes that impact owners and beneficiaries
Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Nursing Homes
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. What is a non-intrusive, low-risk way to help seniors in a nursing home to reduce stress, relieve boredom, and provide a needed avenue for physical touch and to show and receive love? Therapy dogs! There are several types of trained and/or certified therapy dogs. Facility Therapy Dogs and Animal-Assisted Therapy Dogs are used by
How To Write a Letter of Intent
Special Needs Planning Basics It’s difficult to know where to start with writing a letter of intent. The information provided here is designed to give you some ideas of what you might want to include, and we’ve provided a downloadable template to help you get started. Keep in mind that the letter of intent is not considered a legal document. However, it
What Does an Executor Do?
Your father recently passed away, and you’ve learned that your sister has been named executor of his estate. Where does that leave you? If you’ve lived through the death of someone close to you, you understand how complicated estate-related questions can become. Just as an individual can’t own property or act in a legal capacity after his or her death, anyone acting
Caring for a Loved One from a Long Distance
Susan’s mother had always been extremely independent, working as a school superintendent well into her 70’s and living alone after the death of her husband over 20 years ago. Then it all changed in the space of just a few months. Her mother became forgetful, and at times would become disoriented. She had to step down from the job she loved, and
Doing More With ABLE Funds | Special Needs Planning
Here’s a scenario that may be familiar to families whose adult children receive federal or state benefits, and who are concerned with how various expenses can be covered without negatively impacting those benefits. Consider this hypothetical: It’s the start of a new school year, and your young adult son with a disability is very interested in taking a course in graphic design