Recent Blog Posts
Why Title Matters
Real estate can be owned in several different ways. The form of ownership, or how your property is titled, can determine how much control you have over it, how vulnerable your property is to creditor claims and lawsuits, and what will happen to it at your death. So, let’d discuss the different ways to… Read More »
Does my Spouse’s Citizenship Affect my Estate?
A noncitizen spouse is treated differently than a US citizen spouse for estate and gift tax purposes. A noncitizen spouse does not get the unlimited marital deduction. Married US citizen spouses can generally transfer unlimited amounts of money between each other during life or upon death in various qualifying ways without any gift or… Read More »
What to Do When Your Doctor Tells You to Get Your Affairs in Order
A phrase that no one ever wants to hear from their doctor is “it’s time to start getting your affairs in order.” Unfortunately, 76 percent of Americans do not have a will, and it often requires a chronic disease, terminal illness diagnosis, or other life-changing event to prompt people to start the estate planning… Read More »
Talking to Aging Parents About Estate Planning
Beyond the practical purpose of transferring assets and reducing taxes, an estate plan reflects love, responsibility, and values. That emotional heaviness may be part of why many families don’t know how to talk about estate planning, and instead choose to avoid the subject. completely Pew Research reports that only about 3 in 10 US… Read More »
Caution: Writing Your Own Deed to Avoid Probate Can Lead to Costly Unintended Consequences
One goal of estate planning is to ensure that your assets, including your home, pass to your chosen beneficiaries quickly and with minimal expense. In real estate, a common strategy to avoid probate (the court process of validating a will and distributing assets) is to add others to the title. This strategy involves adding… Read More »
When Your Parent Plans to Disinherit Your Sibling
Your parent has made the difficult decision to omit your brother or sister from their estate plan. While this decision will undoubtedly land heavily on your sibling, the decision also places you in a complicated position. So, let’s explore what it means to legally disinherit someone – and what this means for you. As… Read More »
What Is an Inheritor’s Trust?
If you are expecting an inheritance, an estate planning tool known as a trust may prove useful, depending on your circumstances. Among the numerous types of trusts aimed at fulfilling different estate planning purposes, an inheritor’s trust is specially designed to help protect an inheritance. Purpose of an Inheritor’s Trust A future beneficiary establishes… Read More »
Why Receiving an Inheritance Changes Your Estate Plan
Receiving an inheritance can be a meaningful and transformative experience, but it can also create challenges if not handled thoughtfully. Without a clear plan, an inheritor may struggle to manage newly acquired assets, face creditor or tax issues, or lack the financial experience needed to preserve and grow what was left to them. A… Read More »
Do Medicare benefits Cover Skilled Nursing Care?
Choosing the right kind of post-hospital care under Medicare’s rules can be confusing. The nonprofit Medicare Rights Center recently offered a webinar explaining some of the basics on Medicare and skilled nursing facility care (SNF). The webinar addressed common questions about Medicare benefits, including who qualifies for Medicare-covered SNF care, what services Medicare covers, and… Read More »
How to Ensure Your Elder Law Attorney Truly Understands Medicaid Planning
Navigating the Medicaid program can be daunting. You may be seeking help with long-term care planning for a senior family member, or are ready to apply to Medicaid yourself. In either case, working with an experienced elder law attorney who understands the complexities of Medicaid is crucial. However, the reality is that not every… Read More »
