Q. I visited my niece, Natalie, last year at the picturesque Sweetbriar College, a liberal-arts women’s institution in rural Virginia. I am a history buff and I remember during a tour of the campus they mentioned how more than 100 years ago, the land was left by the plantation owner’s daughter to honor the memory of her own daughter. She stipulated in the Last Will and Testament that the land cannot […]
Families in Turmoil Over Alzheimer’s Care — Glen Campbell
Imagine this scenario: You have a loved one who has dementia and needs more care than you can provide. Your family members don’t agree on what to do, and your loved one can no longer express an opinion. Court proceedings follow, and a family that was once united is now at odds. Unfortunately, this happens way too […]
Estate Planning for Childless Couples
When many people think of estate planning, they assume that a person’s heirs are his or her children. But what happens when a couple has no children? Do they need to plan too? The answer is yes. At the very least, they should answer two questions: who will inherit their property, and who should handle […]
Meditation has Many Benefits for Seniors
Dear Commander Bun Bun, My neighbor, Shirley, meditates every day. She says it helps with several aspects of her health, including retaining memories. Do you know anything about this? Anita Relax — Dear Anita, Meditation has been scientifically proven in many studies to be an effective tool for mental, physical, and emotional senior health. In fact, many […]
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. I know these things sound random, but I read online that you can deduct some […]
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 year. Am I allowed to claim him as a dependent on […]
Help Someone Else and You Might Go to Jail
Ray is a loving father and a good friend who enjoys helping others. He helped his son build a deck, assisted his friend in finding a home, and even does his daughter’s taxes on Turbo Tax each year. However, when it comes to estate planning, incapacity planning, and/or Medicaid planning, Ray realized he could not […]
Spending Forever with Your Pet
Dear Saki and Alley, I am very attached to my cat, Jessie. We have been through thick and thin together. When I die, I would like to be buried with her. Is this a possibility? Love, Mike Att-Forever —————– Dear Mike, 62% of households own and love pets, including cats, dogs, birds, fish and more. When it comes […]
How Nursing Homes are Collecting Debts- More Reason to Plan Ahead
Lillian Palermo, a 90-year old retired insurance executive, entered a nursing home after she began experiencing dementia, falls, and surgical complications. Her husband, Dino, who is eight years her junior, visits her every day. He sings her favorite songs, feeds her home-cooked Italian food, and pays a private aide to be there when he cannot. […]
Would You Want This In Your Advance Medical Directive?
Jerome Medalie can’t imagine life with Alzheimer’s. And, he has made it known that he doesn’t want to be around if he can’t “recognize his loved ones” or “articulate coherent thoughts and sentences.” He did so formally and legally in his Advance Medical Directive. According to a recent New York Times blog post, if Jerome […]
Can Pets Get Dementia?
Earl and Linda’s silver poodle, Sophia, is fifteen years old. Recently, they have come home from work to find Sophia wandering aimlessly through the house and have noticed the trouble she is having finding the doggie door. Sophia used to jump up and twirl on her back legs for a treat, but she seems to […]
Common Estate Planning Mistakes Baby Boomers Should Avoid
Baby boomers, or those born between 1946 and 1964, are starting to retire in droves. For these people (and everyone else), it is important to create an estate plan to help protect assets and ensure that wishes are met in the event of death or incapacity. In doing so, it is critical to avoid mistakes […]
Top 14 Articles of 2014
From non-traditional living options to stricter driving laws in Virginia, we covered a lot of ground in 2014. It was a year that included a new act to help special needs families, enhancements to the Medicaid program, and amazing new technological innovations to help seniors age-in-place. At the Farr Law Firm, we expanded from Fairfax to new locations […]
Stricter Law for Mature Drivers Goes into Effect in VA on New Years
As we age, specific abilities needed to drive safely — such as vision, memory, physical strength, reaction time, and flexibility — may decline. Although some seniors are among the safest drivers on the road, those driving with declining faculties can make it dangerous for themselves and others. To address the issue, Virginia will join 33 […]
A New Act to Help Special Needs Families
Q. My 9-year-old daughter, Noelle, is intellectually disabled. The costs for her therapy and assistive technology are quite high, and we are in the process of applying for government assistance (SSI). Despite our struggles to make ends meet, her grandparents and my husband and I would like to save as much as we can […]
Ask the Expert: Can You Explain Social Security, please?
Q. I am 62 and getting ready to retire. I am really confused about how Social Security works. Can I start collecting now, or do I need to wait until I am 65? Also, what is all this about credits? I thought Social Security was determined based on the number of hours worked in a […]
Reducing Holiday Stress for Seniors & Caregivers
Mary Ellen’s father, Hal, suffers from dementia and his health is declining rapidly. Her husband travels often and her mother recently had knee replacement surgery and has trouble getting around. Every night after work, she drops her children off at dance, tae kwon do, or soccer, and goes over to her parents’ house to help […]
Ask the Expert: 2015 Key Medicaid Dollar Amounts
Q. Every year your firm provides the key dollar amounts that are frequently used in elder law, including Medicaid figures, long-term care insurance deductibility limits, Medicare premiums, Social Security Disability, and Supplemental Security Income. Are these figures available for 2015 yet and, if so, can you tell me what some of the changes are for […]
Tech Gifts for Grandma
Dear Commander Bun Bun, The holidays are upon us. Since you are the pet who is known to be the most tech savvy at the firm, do you have any ideas for devices that I can buy for my technologically-challenged (but learning) grandmother, Alice? Thanks for your help, Holly Day-Schopper —- Dear Holly, […]
Virginia 529 Prepaid Education Plan Limited Time Open Enrollment: Plan Ahead for Your Child or Grandchild
We all dream of the day when our child or grandchild is accepted to college. From the time he or she is diapers, we begin planning for great things. We drive them to soccer, gymnastics, and music lessons in hopes that they are talented enough to earn a scholarship to college one day. Then the […]
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