When moving to a Continuing Care Retirement Community or Personal Care or Skilled Nursing facility, one of the last things that families might consider is the legal effect of documents signed on admission. This is not surprising. Between scheduling the movers and cleaning out the home, remembering to pack the glasses, medications and hearing aids […]
Continue readingThe idea that one spouse can effectively take over all financial decisions for the couple while the other is uninvolved came under attack again recently as a result of a sobering study on dementia, couples and money. While it has long been understood that concerns about widowhood and being suddenly single can cause women to […]
Continue readingConsidering the number of years that Pennsylvania legislators voted against same sex marriage, the action that struck the prohibition down in the courts came swiftly and on a day when primary election news occupied center stage. The case of Deb Whitewood v. Michael Wolf, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health (not to be confused with Tom Wolf, […]
Continue readingAt a time when all the news about help for Veterans seems to be bad news, it was good to learn at a recent meeting of my Sunrise Rotary Club of a program in Chester County that is reaching out to homeless and unemployed Veterans. What Chris Pielli, a West Chester attorney, is trying to […]
Continue readingWhen Medicare and Social Security were first proposed, the ages for claiming benefits might have seemed simple and they were consistent. Today, it seems more complicated. Here is a timeline to keep track of those benefit birthdays and what you should know for each. Note these are general rules. If you are unsure, you should […]
Continue readingA few years back I realized with both some humor and concern that it is easier by far to learn the results of balloting from “Dancing With the Stars” or “American Idol” than it is to get the results of off-year and state elections. The incident that precipitated this thought was an on-line search days […]
Continue readingBy the time this column was written its subject had faded into the background somewhat except that it demonstrates what has happened and can happen in the future. What I am talking about is government garnishment of tax refund checks for alleged Social Security overpayments in the past. What is even worse is that many […]
Continue readingWhen I first began working in elder law about 18 years ago, information on Medicaid for seniors facing nursing home and long term care costs was difficult to obtain. The question I heard most often was “Will the nursing home take the house?” People knew there was a lookback on gifting and had some vague […]
Continue readingAs seniors who have previously served in the military and as returning military search for benefits through the system, it can be helpful to have one place they can access for an overview. This column attempts to be that one place starting point. For seniors, in particular, one subject I have addressed in the past, […]
Continue readingAs seniors and their families struggle to deal with the cost of long term care, reverse mortgages have become a continuing topic. While seen by some as a convenient source of ready cash, this strategy can come with pitfalls that must be recognized in advance. The most consistent problems I see relate to using reverse […]
Continue readingYesterday, the first deadline for enrollment in health insurance for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) came to a close, sort of. For those who actually began the process but were unable to complete because of technical problems or issues, there was an extension for some lasting until April 15 for completion. Obamacare resulted in both […]
Continue readingIf you have saved over the years and even if you have only a few thousand in the bank above your living expenses, you might at some point be approached by an adult child or college aged grandchild for a loan or, what sometimes might be even more dangerous, cosigning on a loan or credit […]
Continue readingWhen it comes to estate planning certain trends play themselves out and reappear years later. One such trend is the notion that probate, the recording of a Will or filing of an estate administration without a Will, is to be avoided regardless of the circumstances. Using this as a rallying cry, some companies came to […]
Continue readingWith software programs today like LegalZoom and doyourownwill.com, consumers might get the idea that anyone could prepare a Will. Truth be told, almost anyone can prepare a Will. Whether it will accomplish the objectives of the person drafting it is another matter. Usually people want to know that their assets will pass to the people […]
Continue readingSuppose you are a senior struggling to pay the montly bills but have been wise enough to have paid off your house entirely. Your monthly income is limited to Social Security and you have, in addition to the obvious regular bills such as groceries, utilities, the various insurances, and routine home maintenance, the larger issues […]
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