by Andrew Sykes | Sep 21, 2016 | Elder Law - General, Estate Planning, Wills
You’re having your Last Will and Testament prepared, and you’ve decided on the beneficiaries who will inherit your estate. Good job! I always say any planning is better than no planning. To have a great estate plan, though, I urge you to consider what might happen to...
by Andrew Sykes | Sep 12, 2016 | Elder Law - General, Medicaid Planning, Related - Medicaid Planning
Federal law provides a number of protections for a Medicaid applicant’s spouse (also known as a “community spouse”). Problem is, too few people know of these protections and too many couples fail to take advantage of them. Result? A couple can lose tens of thousands,...
by Andrew Sykes | Aug 29, 2016 | Elder Law - General, Practice Tips for Lawyers, Wills
A will can be contested on various grounds – forgery, fraud, or incapacity of the signer, for instance. The most common basis for a will contest, though, is known as “undue influence” – that is, an allegation that a “testator” (person who signed the will) of weakened...
by Andrew Sykes | Aug 12, 2016 | Elder Law - General, Related - Special Needs, Special Needs Trusts, Trusts, Wills
Some disabled individuals may now obtain tax-advantaged accounts, similar to 529 college savings accounts, to pay for expenses related to disability. These accounts result from the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act passed by Congress in 2014. Allowable...
by Andrew Sykes | Aug 5, 2016 | Elder Law - General, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning
Clients who have found love in their senior years (after death of a loved one or divorce) often ask whether it is better to marry or simply live together (cohabitate). The question can raise complex issues in the answer will vary according to the couple’s individual...
by Andrew Sykes | Aug 1, 2016 | Elder Law - General
Long term care insurance can be a great planning tool to reduce the impact of care costs in your retirement years, and to receive care in your home rather than in a facility. But not everyone qualifies. Long term care insurance requires underwriting – a process by...