Q. My husband and I became empty-nesters when our son and daughter moved out and started families of their own. We will be selling our home and moving to a condominium in a senior living community in a couple of months. I admit I’m somewhat of a pack rat, and have a lot of stuff, […]
Overcoming the Fear of Death
Q. My mother always said that there are two topics to avoid in conversation, whenever possible: religion and politics. Unlike some of my Facebook friends and others I have known, I took this advice to heart and don’t have many enemies. Now that she is in her 80’s, and I am in my 60’s, and my daughter is nearly […]
How to Minimize Family Conflict Over Your Estate Planning Wishes
Q. My children are very different, and sadly they don’t get along. My son, John, has been a PhD student for more than 10 years now. He insists that his research is going well and that he will be done soon. At the age of 45, he still lives in our basement with his wife, and their two children, because they can’t afford their […]
Tax Advantages and Overlooked Deductions for Retirees
Q. April 15 is quickly approaching, and my husband and I are planning on doing our taxes soon. As retirees, I know that there must be some deductions that we may be overlooking. Of course, similar to most seniors on a fixed income, we want to deduct all we can. Are you aware of any tax advantages or overlooked deductions for retirees for 2016 taxes? A. Tax season is here and, as you mentioned, it’s important to be […]
The Financial Problems of CCRCs
A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is an age-restricted community where, in most cases, incoming residents must be at least age 55 or older. The facilities offer independent-living units, assisted living units, and skilled nursing all in the same building or on the same campus. In addition to paying a sizable entrance fee, residents pay […]
Have You Prepared for Your Digital Afterlife? Most People Haven’t.
Q. My mother is very tech savvy. She is always on Facebook posting pictures, articles, and recipes. She uses online bill pay to pay most of her bills, and Microsoft Office 365 to keep a daily diary in Word and her monthly budget in Excel. She uses different passwords for everything, since she feels like […]
First Federally-funded Study on LGBTQ Aging Released
Marsha Wetzel lost her life partner of 30 years to colon cancer, as well as her home. Finding a tiny room in a senior living community seemed like a lifesaver. When she mentioned to other residents that she had raised a son with her partner, Judy Kahn, they seemed shocked that her partner was a […]
Top 16 Articles of 2016
From the presidential candidates’ views on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, to a new president being elected, we covered a lot of ground in 2016. It was a year that included the passing of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act to help special needs individuals, overtime pay for caregivers being instated and subsequently shut down […]
Charitable Giving: The Risks of Generosity
Q. My granddaughter, Abigail, recently got married and my husband and I would like to give her a gift of $14,000 before the end of the year to put towards a down payment on their first home. To be fair, we also want to give the same amount to our grandson, Robert, for some remodeling […]
Happy Holidays from the Farr Law Firm
Planning Your Own “Unique” Funeral — a Scary Undertaking?
Renato Bialetti’s family placed his ashes in a replica coffee pot urn. Q. I recently read about a funeral for 50-year-old Renato Garcia, where his body was on display at his own wake, wearing a Green Lantern costume. When asked why, his sister explained that she and her brother never discussed funeral wishes, but neighbors […]
Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2016 (If You Dare)
With Halloween upon us, now is the time when we present you with this year’s scariest stories. From one typo costing you your computer to loved ones with Alzheimer’s owning guns, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles from least to most scary (but you be the judge) for […]
Making Sure Your Money Goes to the Right Place
Q. When I read your bio, I noticed that you went to William & Mary for Law School. I went there for undergrad and for grad school, and love everything about the place, from the picturesque campus to Lake Matoaka in the Fall. I am a history buff with a PhD, who took full advantage […]
Getting Remarried: Avoiding Estate Planning Mistakes
After Lori’s first marriage ended in divorce, she told her three adult children that she would never remarry. That was until she met Chris. After dating him for five years, and realizing that they were meant to be, Chris proposed to Lori and she said “yes.” Not only will this hopefully mean a happily ever […]
Why Every College Student Should Have an Incapacity Plan
Q. My 18-year old daughter, Madison, will be a freshman in college in the fall. At her high school graduation party, my friend Phil told me that he is already doing estate planning for his own daughter, and he told me that it is really important and I should do it for my daughter. Is this really something that a college student needs? My […]
Special Alert to Existing Clients and Potential Clients
YOUR LIVING TRUST MAY HAVE OUT OF DATE PROVISIONS AND NEED TO BE REVISED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. A once-popular estate planning tool, called a “Credit Shelter Trust” or – also called a “Bypass Trust” or a “Family Trust” — may now cost families more than it saves. If your estate plan includes one, it could be doing more harm than […]
When is a Person Too Incapacitated to Sign Legal Documents?
Q. My father, Roy, has severe arthritis and is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. He is widowed and currently lives in a stand-alone cottage house that my husband and I built for him in our backyard. Sometimes he seems completely “with it,” and other times, he loses his bearings, forgets names and faces, gets […]
A Memory Forest Full of Hope and New Life
When Janis’ father, Barry, had cancer, he tried chemo, radiation, and ayahuasca, a plant native to Peru that is used in traditional healing ceremonies. He is an arborist by trade, and a hippie by nature. Prior to his cancer, he was strong and active, and well into middle age, you could find him climbing up […]
Do Not Resuscitate Orders Being Placed Without Patient Consent?
All of us can be lulled into believing we’ve got plenty of time, until something unexpected happens. Whether it’s a car accident, a heart attack, a fire, or a stroke, those who procrastinated and didn’t plan in advance often kick themselves for not taking action sooner. Let’s take, for example, Michelle Singletary, a Washington Post […]
The Estate Planning of Prince, Harper Lee, and David Bowie
In 2016 so far, we have said farewell to some of the most legendary names in music, film, literature, and television, including Prince, Harper Lee, and David Bowie — all within the first four months of the year. While nothing can make the horrific loss of these legends better for their families, friends, and fans, […]
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