Category Archives for 2021

Dealing With Unknowns In Retirement

Unknowns_In_Retirement

While we frequently plan for our estates considering what we leave to our spouses and children it is probably a fact that we rarely consider the long life ahead either for ourselves or for our spouses as widows or widowers. When we do think of these planning possibilities we generally think in terms of how […]

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Qualified Charitable Distributions Can Reduce Taxes

Qualified_Charitable_Distributions

Using an old adage “you can have your cake and eat it too,” there are several ways whereby contributions to charity might also reduce your tax burden while benefiting causes you support. One of these is a Qualified Charitable Distribution sometimes referenced as a QCD. QCD’s can use the federal tax code to benefit taxpayers, […]

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How Much Does A Will Cost?

How_Much_Does_Will_Cost

Despite the number of times I have repeated that a client is not buying a Will I still hear as I did a little over a week ago by phone the same question. “How much does a Will cost?” This is probably because consumers are constantly asked the question “Do you have a Will?” which […]

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What Does An Executor Do?

What_Does_Executor_Do

Sometimes clients suggest ideas that lend themselves easily to columns. This column resulted from a comment by a client who had been asked by a relative if he would be willing to serve as Executor of her estate when she passes. The question from my client was straightforward. “What does an Executor do?” I know […]

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Where Is Home When You Have More Than One?

Multiple_Homes

The arrival of COVID-19 followed by the Delta variant likely contributed to a movement already underfoot for some Americans – sharing time between what had always been considered their primary residence and a vacation home. Now that workers did not necessarily need to report to work regularly at a physical location and could handle their […]

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Facts on Medicare Supplements vs. Medicare Advantage

Medicare Supplements vs. Medicare Advantage

I had planned to forego any further writing on Medicare plans and Open Enrollment which is now ongoing until December 7, thinking that my prior column on MEDI, a free service staffed by volunteers that provides advice on the topic (see November 2) would be enough. However, the vast number of television ads and the […]

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What To Do If Your Bank Refuses Your Power of Attorney

Bank_Refuses_Power_of_Attorney

When processing paperwork for your family member or friend in need, few circumstances become more frustrating than finding a bank, financial institution, insurance company or government office that refuses to accept your paperwork due to some previously unrecognized flaw. High on the list of refusals may be refusal to accept a validly executed power of […]

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It’s Medicare Open Enrollment Time – MEDI Can Help

Medicare_Open_Enrollment_2022

It is that time again – the time to remind anyone who wants to review or change their Medicare coverage that Medicare Open Enrollment is here. The Annual Open Enrollment Period for 2022 coverage runs from October 15, 2021 to December 7, 2021. This year free health insurance counselors are available through the MEDI (PA […]

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Election Time – Information for the General Election

Pennsylvania_General_Election

It might seem like just yesterday when you voted but it is time once again to relearn everything you experienced about mail in ballots and voting at the polls. Election day for many major local elections and for judges is just around the corner on November 2. If you forgot the process for mail in […]

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Business To Know When a Family Member Dies

Business_in_Death_Loved_One

When you are dealing with illness and grief you might not be able to pull together what to do when your husband, wife, parent or sibling dies. You might look for a will, cremations and funeral pre-arrangement plans, or the location of bank accounts but decisions likely pass in a blur. This column is to […]

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Pennsylvania ABLE Program Heralded As a Success

Pennsylvania-ABLE-Program

One of the problems affecting disabled persons in the Medicaid and Supplemental Security (SSI) systems has been extreme limitations on the amount they can carry in savings and still continue to qualify. A national program adopted by Pennsylvania in 2014 helps to deal with this to some extent particularly as it affects individuals who became […]

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Questions to Ask Before Becoming a Trustee

Questions_to_Ask_Before_Becoming_Trustee

At some point as family members, neighbors, or friends are planning their estates you might be asked whether you would be willing to serve as a Trustee. Especially if you have not had this experience in the past it would be reasonable to ask for further information. A source to which I belong, Elder Law […]

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Planning When You Own A Vacation Home

Estate_Planning_Vacation_Home

If you own a vacation home this may be the time when you begin the trek back home, wave goodbye to the summer and early fall, and return to work at home or sit back and enjoy retirement. It might also be the time finally when you take a hard look into the future and […]

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Why Was Britney Spears Placed Under Conservatorship?

Britney_Spears_Conservatorship

Thirteen years ago Britney Spears, a young, immensely popular American rock star, was placed under conservatorship in California, a term roughly equivalent to guardianship in Pennsylvania, under the control of her father, Jamie Spears, for both her person and estate (finances). That arrangement has been modified somewhat over the years and her father lost some […]

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How to Deal With An Estate That Does Not Have Enough Money

Estate_Not_Enough_Money

Being appointed Executor of an estate is often considered an honor. When the assets do not match up with the bills or with required distributions, the position can, however, result in headaches. An experienced elder law or estate attorney can help you through with sound advice. However, here are some things to know. Probate assets […]

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