On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Friday, March 25, 2016. If you're considering a living trust or revocable living trust, review these common questions and answers to help you better understand how they work and whether or not it's right for you:Can I be my own trustee?You can. As long as you're competent enough and can manage your finances effectively, you can serve as your own trustee. Most people opt for this and if you're married, your spouse can be your co...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Friday, March 11, 2016. When a person passes away, you assume they're safe from any wrongdoing, but you would be wrong. The number of identity theft cases against deceased individuals has grown substantially in the past few years. More family members are finding out their loved one's identity was stolen shortly after their death. While the estate won't be liable for the charges, it is a hassle that can still cost the family in ...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. When you create an estate plan, the first question that will be on your mind is whom you should discuss your wishes with. Unfortunately, the answer isn't as simple as you might think.Keeping an Estate Plan SecretSome individuals feel that their estate plan is private; therefore they shouldn't have to share it with anyone. Some people do this to hide their net worth from family members and protect ag...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Friday, January 22, 2016. A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document in which you assign a family member or close friend to manage specified items. You can arrange to make someone your DPOA in the event that an unexpected circumstance arises in which you are not able to appoint someone - such as a concussion, coma, or Alzheimer's.If you have not planned ahead and assigned a DPOA, your family will have to undergo a l...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Friday, January 15, 2016. When you apply for Veteran's Aid, like any other assistance program, especially those run by a government entity, they are not just going to take you at your word. It is a red-tape process, and they will require documentation to verify a number of important pieces of information used to determine your eligibility. To speed up the process, avoiding any unnecessary delays, you should gather the following...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. The 2011 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) collected information for the first time about provision of eldercare. It looked at the average time spent per day in various activities.There are 39.8 million civilian eldercare providers who do not work in an institution. These are unpaid caregivers who help someone over the age of 65. The majority of these providers are women.Most are younger than their char...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Tuesday, December 29, 2015. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does make bad decisions sometimes. If you think they have done so in your case, or if you are a family member helping a loved one who is a veteran, you have appeal rights.Appeal ProcessFirst, you can appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals. If they uphold the denial, then you can appeal to the U.S. Court for Veterans Claims. The court can adjudicate to establis...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Over one-fifth of American families care for parents, grandparents, or others over age 50. This is according to a study done by AARP. It showed that over ten percent of such families' income was spent on caregiving. That number skyrocketed for families caring for someone long-distance. Expenses were estimated at almost $5,000 per month.The level of care is defined by who can provide the care. Skilled...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Thursday, December 3, 2015. If your loved one is a wartime veteran or surviving spouse, he or she may qualify for financial help from the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance program. If you have been given advice that your loved one's income is above the limit, don't take that automatically as a reason not to apply.No Look-Back Period ... for nowThere are legal monthly monetary limits for income and assets. These are man...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Monday, November 9, 2015. If you apply for the USA military's pension program under the Veterans Aid and Attendance program, be aware that your income will be considered. This program is additional to the basic pension program. It is paid to wartime vets with limited or no income and other age and disability qualifications.Income in the Veterans Administration's (VA) viewpoint covers funds received from most sources. It include...
