For more than 20 years, Rachel’s father has had Parkinson’s Disease. When she first moved to the DC area in 1998, her father walked with a cane, and although his hands shook a little, he was still able to dance with her at her wedding. Rachel knew that this was only the beginning, and as […]
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 […]
The Most Important Awareness Day of the Year (and only 20- 30% realize it!)
Anne is 71 years old, and her health is rapidly declining. When her time comes, she is confident that she wants to donate her organs to help someone else live a longer and healthier life. She also wants to be buried next to her second husband, Joseph. Anne has three children — two from her […]
Guess What! I’m Getting Married!
When you see a subject line like this one, you may have several different reactions. The first one that comes to mind is happiness for the couple who is planning to share their life together. The second may be shock or even suspicion, because it seemed to have come out of nowhere, or because the […]
Facing the Elephant in the Room
When Alyssa left for her long drive back to college or for a vacation, she would always give her father a long, meaningful hug, and would reassure him that if something happened to him or her, that she loved him very much. Since she was always prepared for EVERYTHING, when she came home for holidays, […]
Living with Fewer Rights than a Convicted Felon
Q. My 30-year-old cousin, Donnie, is intellectually disabled. He works at the Wendy’s near my house, serving burgers and greeting customers with a smile. He has a bank account, saves most of the money he earns, makes a mean chili, and drives to work each day. Yet, his mother has guardianship over him, leaving him […]
“Life Reimagined”- Guidance for Retirement Planning
Are you at a point in your life where you’re asking, “What’s next?” You’ve finished one chapter and you have yet to write the next one, and this one involves an empty nest, no more commuting to the office, lots more time for yourself, and limitless options. Many of us face these exciting transitions as […]
I Am Single With No Children. Why Should I Bother Planning?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I am a free-spirited single person who has never been married or had any children. I don’t even have brothers or sisters. Yesterday, my neighbor told me about her estate planning during our morning walk. She suggested I call Evan’s office and make an appointment. I disagree. Dying is the last […]
Tom Brokaw Doesn’t Know Where His Living Will Is. Do You Know Where Yours Is?
Tom Brokaw and his daughter Jennifer appeared at the TEDx Stanford conference, speaking on the subject of end-of-life health care options. Brokaw began the dialogue, framed as a conversation between father and daughter, by asking the audience to ponder the reason to have such conversations. He shocked the audience by admitting that “unfortunately, I don’t […]
Ask the Expert: I Am Young and in Good Health. Why Plan Now When I Can Probably Wait?
Q. I am in my 40’s and run marathons. I am in better health now than I have been in my entire life. My family eats only organic foods, and we are hardly ever sick. My grandparents are still alive, and they are in their 90’s, and my husband has a grandmother who is 102! […]
Alzheimer’s Diagnosis is Rarely Disclosed to Patients
Q. My mother, Lorraine , is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. We think it began ten years ago when she started showing signs, but no one knows for sure. She went to a doctor for physicals every year, and seemed to be in good health, except she had what we thought were “senior moments.” When […]
Informal Home Care Could Result in Medicaid Ineligibility
Betty Jensen was an elderly woman with dementia, who resided in her home in Muskegon, Michigan. In May 2011, when she needed assistance, her concerned grandson, Jason, acted on her behalf and hired a non-relative, Teresa Alexander, to serve as her Caregiver. Hiring a Caregiver When hiring the Caregiver, Jason entered into an informal agreement […]
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 […]
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 […]
The “Power” of Peace of Mind
Incapacity Planning is perhaps the most fundamental type of estate planning and yet it is also the most important. Life is unpredictable; even someone in perfect health can become incapacitated from an accident or unforeseen medical condition. If the unthinkable should happen, who would be in charge of making the most important decisions related to […]
Think Twice Before Filling Out Back to School Emergency Card
If you have minor children at home, you can expect an emergency card to arrive in just a few weeks from your child’s school or day care facility. The point of this card is to allow you to authorize certain people to pick up your child if you are not able to, for whatever reason. […]
Parent of a Graduating Senior? Avoid this “Nightmare” Scenario
Your graduating senior may always be your baby, but in the eyes of the law, he or she is now an adult. You need to understand that you can no longer make important medical or financial decisions for your child without their permission. This can be problematic when your adult child still is relying on […]