Can a Health Care Agent Complete a MOLST?
If a patient has been determined to lack capacity, then an agent under a Health Care Proxy can complete a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) on their behalf.
The Importance of Estate Planning in Dealing with Stressful Events
There are some events in life that we can’t emotionally prepare for. They can come on suddenly and unexpectedly. But an estate planning attorney can help legally prepare for some of them. Here are some life events that can be…
Understanding Medicaid Coverage When Moving to a New State
A number of my clients have experienced a gap in their Medicaid coverage because they moved from one state to another to be closer to their families. It is important to remember that Medicaid is not portable. You cannot simply…
What is Your Legacy? It’s Never Too Late to Create One!
Creating a legacy is a way to honor your life and benefit future generations. We always remind our clients—when it comes to estate planning: one size does not fit all.
When we meet with new clients to implement their estate planning, one of the many questions we ask include, “What are your estate planning objectives?” We ask this question because every client has different goals and thus, every client’s estate plan must be tailored to reach these goals.
Incapacitation and Guardianship: Legal Proceedings Explained
In a previous blog, we discussed the important documents—healthcare proxy, living will, and power of attorney—that allow you to appoint people to make healthcare, legal, and financial decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated. If you have not finalized those…
Caring for a Child with Special Needs? You May Be Eligible for Early Social Security Benefits
Caring for a child with special needs requires many resources, one of which may be Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
When a parent of a child with special needs retires and begins receiving Social Security retirement benefits, the child may qualify for SSDI. A lesser known provision in the Social Security regulation allows the spouse of the retiree to also receive Social Security benefits regardless of whether they are of retirement age or not—so long as they are caring for the child with special needs at home.
College Checklist: Important Legal Documents to Prepare
When sending your child to college, expect the best, but plan for the worst. As parents, we spend so much time ensuring our children have all the supplies they need when going off to college: the extra-long sheets, the microwave,…
The Importance of Elder Law Planning
Unlike a general practice attorney who may execute wills and trusts, elder law attorneys are versed in the complex issues the elderly face. Elder law attorneys also use a holistic approach to aid their clients. What does this mean? Actions…
How to Deal with a Non-responsive Attorney
The scenarios below can be very frustrating if you hired an attorney to help you, and they are nowhere to be found: I know they are a good attorney, but I hate that my my phone calls and emails are…
Exploring Financial Opportunities: Disability Benefits for Children
I have met with many families who have children with special needs. One of the most important questions that we ask is, “Was your child declared disabled prior to the age of 22?” If the answer to that question is…