Monthly Archives: July 2011
Retirement Assets May Be Unpleasant Surprise for Heirs
You’ll often read news articles or blog posts about saving for retirement—when to start, how much to save, what savings or investment plan is best—but there’s an important retirement topic which often goes underreported: How these retirement accounts impact your heirs. As noted by this article in the Wall Street Journal, “The new, higher… Read More »
Who Can I Contact if I Encounter Problems with Dad’s Nursing Home Care?
Most people try to learn as much as possible about a nursing home before their parent moves in. However, despite the careful consideration that goes into choosing the right nursing home, occasionally our clients experience problems with their parent’s nursing home care and quality of life. One way to help resolve these problems is… Read More »
Charitable Lead Trusts Can Benefit Your Heirs AND Your Favorite Charity
2011 and 2012 are good years not only for heirs but also for charities; high estate- and gift-tax exemption amounts (as much as $5 million per person) have many wealthy families exploring their options for gift-giving, and record-low interest rates are prompting many financial advisors to recommend that their clients set up charitable lead… Read More »
War Veterans May Be Unaware They Qualify For VA Aid and Attendance Benefits
One of the services Elder Law and Estate Planning attorneys often provide is helping clients navigate the application procedures and bureaucratic systems for the various state and federal medical insurance programs; and one thing that remains a surprise throughout the years is how many people forget about the VA Aid and Attendance Program for… Read More »
How Should A Caregiving Relative Be Compensated?
It is common knowledge in our society of aging Baby Boomers that many adult children end up taking months or even years off from their lives and careers to provide care for their elderly parents. Most children do this out of love and a sense of duty, but even in the closest of parent-child… Read More »
QPRTs Offer A Chance to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Since the burst of the housing bubble a few years ago and the subsequent crash of real property value, many of the clients who have come into our office have bemoaned the lowered value of their homes, but we have good news for these clients: You do have options. One of those options is… Read More »
The Best Laid (Estate) Plans…
A recent story in the Chicago Tribune will be of interest to anybody who has created, or is considering creating, an estate plan—regardless of state of residence. The article tells of Heather Rooney, the widow of wealthy businessman Thomas McNamee, and her ongoing fight to get the inheritance she believes her deceased husband wanted… Read More »
res•pite (res?pit) noun
res·pite (res?pit) noun 1. an interval of temporary relief or rest, as from work, duty, etc.; lull 2. refresh, renew, restore, refuel Respite care is the provision of short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home. Many caregivers consider… Read More »
As Priorities Change, So Does Your Estate Plan
Estate plans have been changing quite a bit over the past few years, not only because of changing laws and new tools for protecting your assets and your heirs, but also because our priorities as a society are changing and growing. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal sums up the situation well:… Read More »
Joint Ownership A Dangerous Way to Avoid Probate
When asking about how to avoid probate, many clients have asked about the wisdom of adding family members as joint owners to bank accounts. While joint ownership will achieve the goal of avoiding probate, there are many dangers and drawbacks to adding family members—even trusted family members—as joint owners on bank accounts: Vulnerability to… Read More »