Q. My mother, Jessica, lives alone and is considering adopting a pet. I am all in favor, but know it is a lot of work and vet visits are often expensive. For me, these things are certainly worth it. Despite the grooming costs, the heartworm pills, and the occasional sick visit, I wouldn’t give up […]
Updating Estate Planning Documents
Dear Ernie and Jannette, The last time I updated my estate planning documents was in 2003. Since then, both my children have gotten married and I have five grandchildren. I also bought a second home in Florida. Given these life changing events, should I be updating my estate planning documents? Best regards, Maksim Changes-Twomydocs […]
Are Estate Planning Services Tax Deductible?
Dear Saki and Alley, It is November and the end of the year is drawing near. Every year, at around this time, I begin paying close attention to tax deductions. I was wondering, if I use your firm to do my estate planning in 2014, are my legal expenses tax deductible? Juana Deduct-Allican — […]
Halloween Can Be Scary for those with Dementia
Q. My mother-in-law has dementia and lives at home with a caregiver to assist her with activities of daily living. Before she was diagnosed, she loved Halloween, especially all the decorations, seeing the grandchildren dressed up in costumes, and the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The children also loved trick-or-treating at her home, because she would go all […]
Grandma Loves Halloween Candy: Tips for Eating Healthier
Dear Commander Bun Bun, My grandmother has gone through two bags of Halloween candy and there haven’t been any trick-or-treaters yet. At this rate, she will have to hang up a no more candy sign before school even lets out. This is not just the case on Halloween. She beelines for the candy aisle at […]
Caution: Our Top 10 SCARIEST Articles
With Halloween upon us, it is time to present you, our dear readers, with this year’s scariest & creepiest stories. From the nightmare of probate to court cases involving filial responsibility, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles for you to revisit (if you dare). As always, thank you […]
Caregiving Across the Miles
Q. I live in Northern Virginia, 700 miles away from my parents, who are in Florida. My father has Parkinson’s and insists on staying in our family home. His mobility has diminished, and I worry about him falling nearly every day. I cannot move closer because of my husband’s government job and my job, and the quality of […]
NASA SmartWatch, Implanted Health Devices, and Other New Technology for Seniors
Is Grandpa going gadget-crazy? Not quite yet, but we are getting there. According to a recent Pew Research survey, the number of older adults using the internet and related tech devices is increasing, with 59% of seniors reporting that they go online and 77% of older adults reporting that they have a cell phone. The Pew Research […]
Cool or Spooky? Funerals that Mimic Life
Q. My great aunt, Jane, is not afraid to talk about death. The things she loves most in life, besides family, are the Washington Redskins, playing canasta, and gardening. She often mentions how when she dies, she wants to be wearing her favorite football jersey while playing cards on the small patio next to her […]
Why Plan for Incapacity?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I read a startling statistic that less than a third of the population has completed Incapacity Planning documents. Why don’t people plan for incapacity and how can my family begin the process? Justin Case — Dear Justin, Thanks for your question about incapacity planning. Reasons people don’t plan for incapacity often […]
LGBTQ Marriage Ruling Brings New Planning Choices
LGBTQ married couples can now celebrate another important victory in their fight for equal rights. Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled to let the appeals court rulings allowing same-sex marriage in five states stand, clearing the way for same-sex marriages in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Now, same-sex couples can marry in 24 states, along […]
Six Myths About Falls
Q. I recently visited my parents, who are in their 70’s, and have been worried ever since. My father, Sam, fell three times during the two days I was there. Often, my mother, Elaine, has lunch out and quilts with her friends, leaving dad home by himself. I questioned my mother about it and she said that falls are a […]
Listen to Evan H. Farr, CELA being interviewed on 1500 AM (Federal News Radio) on Sunday, October 5!
On Sunday, October 5 at 10:30 p.m, I will be the guest on “Of Consuming Interest” hosted by Shirley Rooker, radio host and President of Call For Action, Inc. On her show, Ms. Rooker typically interviews top government officials, CEOs, and experts in their respective fields about topics that are of interest to consumers. […]
Filial Responsibility: Elderly Couple May Be Responsible For Son’s Medical Bills
Filial responsibility laws obligate adult children to pay for their indigent parents’ food, clothing, shelter and medical needs. When the children fail to do so, nursing homes, hospitals, and other creditors can file lawsuits against the adult children to recover the cost of caring for the parents. Not only can they sue the children for […]
Joan Rivers Death Reminds us to Have End-of-Life Conversation
Q. I am very close with my in-laws, who are both in their late 70’s, and all I want for them (and for everyone I care about) is to live a long happy life. Unfortunately, the inevitable happens to us all, and when it does happen, I really want my entire family to be prepared […]
Sandwich Generation: How to Survive Financially
Q. My husband and I are in our mid 40s and caught between raising our 10 and 14 year old children, working full-time, and caring for my father, who has Parkinson’s. We are particularly concerned about saving for college for our children and for our own retirement, while helping my father live safely and comfortably […]
Robin Williams: A Life Well-Lived and an Estate Well-Planned
Q. I read your special report on “Estate Planning Mistakes of Celebrities,” demonstrating why probate is such a nightmare and lessons that can be learned from the costly mistakes of celebrities. I appreciate all the advice on “what not to do” when it comes to estate planning. Are there any celebrities that offer examples of […]
“Hide” is a Four-Letter Word
Q. I read in USA Today about an 83-year-old man who hid $1.1 million in offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes. I have also read about others who attempt to hide their assets to qualify for Medicaid, as a way to pay for long-term care. Isn’t it wrong and unlawful to hide assets in order […]
Helping Seniors and Veterans from Going Hungry
After working for decades and raising four children without government assistance, Carol found herself asking for help feeding herself and her husband, Richard. Faced with health problems that prevent them from working, Carol and Richard struggle to get by on their monthly Social Security check. And like millions of seniors today, by the time they […]
Common Misconceptions about Revocable Trusts
Recently, CNBC posted an article on their Website about the benefits of trusts, entitled “Heir Tight: The Do’s and Don’ts of Creating Rock-Solid Trusts.” The article provides some very good information about why most people should have a trust; however, there are some misconceptions when it comes to Revocable Living Trusts and what they protect […]
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