Have you considered your pet or pets when planning your estate? If not, you should, according to The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization."Since pets have shorter life spans, … [Read more...]
Joint Account Fails To Do Its Job
August 1, 2006 by Leave a Comment
A court decision in Virginia highlights the potential dangers of relying on joint accounts for estate planning. Caine v. NationsBank, N.A. (Va. Sup. Ct., No. 002615, Sept. 14, 2001).In May 1989, Dr. Andrew A. Freier opened a … [Read more...]
Congress Passes Bill Containing Punitive New Medicaid Transfer Rules
February 8, 2006 by Leave a Comment
By a vote of 216-214, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed budget legislation that will impose punitive new restrictions on the ability of the elderly to transfer assets before qualifying for Medicaid coverage of nursing … [Read more...]
The Message of the Pending Asset Transfer Changes: Don’t Delay Medicaid Planning
January 17, 2006 by Leave a Comment
As you may know, Congress is on the brink of enacting a law that would impose punitive new restrictions on the ability of the elderly to transfer assets before qualifying for Medicaid coverage of nursing home care. (For the … [Read more...]
A Do-It-Yourselfer Costs Beneficiaries Money and Heartache
May 6, 2005 by Leave a Comment
Here’s another story about a person who tried to create an estate plan without an attorney’s help, and ended up causing huge problems for his beneficiaries.A California man wrote his own will, in which he divvied up his real … [Read more...]
Estate Plans Should Be Reviewed Due to New Medical Privacy Rules
April 13, 2005 by Leave a Comment
A new federal law on medical privacy is having a big effect on estate planning, and many people should consider reviewing their documents as a result. The law is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, … [Read more...]
