Recent Blog Posts
5 Key Considerations in Estate Planning for LGBTQ Couples
Everyone needs estate planning. Regardless of your age, race, gender, or sexual orientation, properly protecting your future and your loved ones requires a plan. There are a few specific considerations to keep in mind when it comes to estate planning for LGBTQ couples. Each couple is unique, and it is our goal at McDonald… Read More »
How to care for an elderly parent
As much as you may try, aging is something you cannot escape, and it affects all families. It can be challenging for adult children to imagine their parents as seniors and to understand and respond to the reality that each parent will age differently. Even if you are in the fortunate circumstance where your… Read More »
Missed a Required Minimum Distribution? Here Is How to Fix It
The retirement years are supposed to be carefree—but what if you neglected to take the required minimum distribution (RMD) from one or more of your retirement accounts or took a distribution that was lower than required? This could be a costly mistake resulting in a tax penalty of 50% of the amount of the… Read More »
6 (Surprising) Myths About Long-Term Care
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, someone turning age 65 today will have a 70 percent chance of requiring some long-term care (LTC) service and support during the remainder of their life. In the case of women, the typical LTC need will last about 3.7 years compared to men who will… Read More »
6 Things to Watch Out For Before Signing a Nursing Home Contract
Suppose your mother can no longer make decisions for herself and she now needs nursing-home care. You are stressed and anxious. You’re now staring down a twenty-page, single-spaced nursing home contract. You wish you could flip straight to the last page and sign then and there, just to get it over with. Do not… Read More »
Adoption and Estate Planning: How to Take Care of Your New Family Member
November is National Adoption Month, which is aimed at raising awareness about adoption and the children who need permanent, loving homes. Thousands of children are adopted each year, bringing much joy to their adoptive families. If you are in the process of adopting or have recently adopted a child, it is a great time… Read More »
Why You Need an Estate Plan
In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand why you need an estate plan by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Nevertheless, according to a 2019 survey carried out by Caring.com, 57% of adults in the United States have not… Read More »
9 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft of a Deceased Loved One
Identity theft is the last thing a grieving family should have to worry about after the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, identity thieves have increasingly targeted the identities of deceased people, using their names and other identifying information to get credit cards, apply for loans, collect refunds based on fraudulent tax returns, and… Read More »
What To Do When a Loved One Dies
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. The last thing most people want to think about is making phone calls or funeral arrangements. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that should be taken soon after the loss… Read More »
When Assisted Living May Not Be Enough
Jane’s father Jerry decided, on his own, that it was time to move into an assisted living facility. Jerry’s arthritis had worsened to the point where he couldn’t dress himself, he struggled to get in and out of the shower, and he was lonely living by himself. Jerry did very well at his new… Read More »
