Comprehensive Elder Law Services Addressing a Full Range of Legal Issues
When engaging in estate planning, or even long term care planning, with an elder law attorney, it is a good idea to include Social Security Retirement benefit planning. Why? For most Americans, Social Security Retirement benefits are an important part, if not all,...
Identity theft may occur in many ways. Last week's blog talked about medical identity theft. There are many other types of information that a thief can take such as stealing your credit or debit card numbers (also called skimming), stealing your wallet or purse,...
Identity theft is a growing problem today, especially in the area of medical information. It occurs when someone other than you uses your name or health insurance information to obtain medical care. You need to protect yourself and your medical information. One...
Long term care planning is always a good idea, since it can help a family protect itself from the expense of long term care. On Mothers' Day, it can be even more relevant. Why? Most mothers want to take care of their families, even when it is hard on them...
When dealing with probate and estate administration, be aware that Pennsylvania imposes inheritance taxes on the decedent's assets. The tax rate is determined by the relationship of the decedent to the person inheriting the property (the beneficiary). The tax rate...
Many people want to avoid Probate but are not sure what that term means. Here is a simple way to understand Probate. When a person dies owning assets in his or her name alone, an estate must be "opened" by a personal representative to handle the assets and to settle...
Trusts of various types have been described in the last several blogs - Revocable, Irrevocable, Testamentary and Special Needs. There are other types of trusts as well, such as those for charities, pets, or education. Whether or not Trusts are right for your...
Special Needs Trusts are funded with the assets of a special needs or disabled beneficiary and are intended to preserve eligibility for Medicaid (Medical Assistance), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other government benefits. The beneficiary may have obtained...
Testamentary Trusts are trusts that are in a Last Will and Testament. These Trusts have Settlors (who set up the Trusts by writing them in their Wills), Trustees (who manage the Trusts after the Testator passes away and the estate has been administered) and...
Irrevocable Trusts may be used for estate planning or long term care planning purposes to protect assets. Irrevocable Trusts, like Revocable Living Trusts, have Settlors (who set up the trust), Trustees (who manage it) and beneficiaries (who receive benefits from...