What Are the Drawbacks of Naming Beneficiaries?
September 8, 2023
Although in many situations the advantages outweigh the disadvantages when selecting beneficiaries, there are always exceptions. What Is a Beneficiary? Beneficiaries are individuals who you select to receive money, various other assets, or specific bequests (such as sentimental items) upon your death. You can name these individuals in estate planning documents such as a will. […]
What Does Having Power of Attorney With Dual Agents Mean?
September 5, 2023
A power of attorney is among one of the most important incapacity planning documents you can have. It designates someone you trust with taking care of your affairs if you become unable to do so. In a power of attorney, you give one or more trusted people of your choice the right to manage your affairs […]
Home Health Services Underutilized by Seniors, Study Shows
August 30, 2023
Health Affairs estimates that 4 million older adults can only leave their homes with assistance, making accessing care challenging. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.3 million Americans receive care in nursing homes. According to A Place For Mom, more than 810,000 reside in assisted living. Home health care presents an alternative to nursing homes […]
Elder Law and Special Needs Newsletter: August 2023 Issue
August 29, 2023
Don’t miss the August issue of our Elder Law and Special Needs newsletter. This month, our attorneys have rolled out their new vlogs to discuss industry hot topics, along with a corresponding article. We have also started a new “Meet our Team” spotlight and this month’s feature is our practice group coordinator, Mariah Hernandez. Read […]
Lady Bird Deeds: A Different Kind of Life Estate
August 23, 2023
Life estates are ways for you to transfer property to another party while retaining the right to live there until you pass away, or some other event occurs. As the grantor of the life estate deed, you become a life tenant of the property. What Is a Lady Bird Deed? Lady Bird Deeds, technically known […]
What to Know About Being a Health Care Proxy
August 18, 2023
When you assume the role of the health care proxy of a loved one, you make crucial medical decisions on their behalf. If your loved one becomes incapacitated and cannot communicate with health care providers, you are responsible for ensuring health care providers respect their preferences for care. If you are a health care proxy, […]
When Should I Include a Pour Over Will in My Estate Plan?
August 7, 2023
In creating an estate plan, you are proactively taking steps to ensure that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes in the wake of your death. One tool available to you in estate planning is known as a trust. There are numerous kinds of trusts. If you wish to maintain control, during your lifetime, […]
3 Common Probate Questions: Estate Planning Basics
July 28, 2023
When people pass away, they leave behind assets, property and possessions that can have sentimental and real value for surviving family members and loved ones. Some assets transfer directly to heirs after a person’s death. These non-probate assets include payable-on-death bank accounts, insurance policies with designated beneficiaries, trust funds and jointly held assets with survivorship […]
Do You Need a HIPAA Release?
July 24, 2023
If you are in the hospital, you may want your loved ones to be able to access information about your prognosis. However, if you have not authorized them to receive specifics regarding your medical condition, they could be denied these details. What Is HIPAA? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability […]