Taxation of Special Needs Trusts

This article was written by Special Needs Alliance member Tara Pleat. Tara is a founding partner of the law firm of Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC in Clifton Park, New York. She practices in the areas of Special Needs Planning, Elder … [Read more...]

Ask the Expert: Can You Deduct a Toupee from Taxes?

Q. My boyfriend, Richard, became self-conscious about his baldness last year and went out one day and purchased a toupee. We also took in a foster cat, landscaped our property, and installed an in-ground pool to help us stay fit. … [Read more...]

Critter Corner: Can You Claim a Pet as a Dependent?

Dear Baxter,My dog, Rover, is like a child to me.  He is cute, loveable, and playful, and like a human child, relies on me for support. Vet bills, food, cleanup, and repairs caused by damage, have cost a lot of money this past … [Read more...]

Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 2)

"Long-Term Care" refers to the broad spectrum of medical and support services provided to persons who have lost some or all capacity to function on their own due to a chronic illness or disabling condition, and who are expected to … [Read more...]

Online Estate Planning: Is It Enough?

Trust lawyers are well aware of the variety of online estate planning tools available to those in Virginia and beyond, such as Quicken WillMaker, LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer. The variety of products available can create a false … [Read more...]

Three Tips to Outsmart Timeshare Reps

If you and your family are fortunate enough to go on that well-deserved resort vacation this year, then there is a good chance you'll find yourself listening to the all-too-familiar ‘timeshare marketing pitch.’   Most people … [Read more...]

August is “What Will Be Your Legacy?” Month!

Many of us are so caught up in the here-and-now of the present that we fail to consider our distant future. We may get around to it later in life, after we have lived awhile–wondering what we might be remembered for, or what we … [Read more...]

New Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

Good news for veterans!On April 6, 2011 a new statute was made Virginia law, awarding a real property tax exemption for permanently service-related disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. Originally approved by voters in … [Read more...]

A Mixed Bag in Virginia: Federal Law Prohibits 2011 Social Security Increases, but Federal Agency Grants Millions to Disadvantaged Groups

As Halloween approaches this year, I can't help but draw an analogy between the nights I spent meandering my neighborhood as a kid looking for handouts, and our current economic times.  I recall my grade-school friends and I … [Read more...]

Upcoming Seminars for Lawyers and Clients

 I'm conducting two seminars this week on the topic of Income Only Trusts. The first one is a teleseminar for attorneys around the country who are members of the professional group ElderLawAnswers.  Entitled Using Income Only … [Read more...]

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