Creating a will in Greensboro, North Carolina, requires you to make some important decisions in light of both what you own and what the law requires. Whenever you make a will you must, for example, consider how much your spouse is entitled to inherit upon your death. This includes whether you entered into a common-law marriage or a more traditional marriage with a marriage license and … read more
Have Healthcare Documents for Your Children – A Letter From Cheryl
Dear Readers, This weekend I was out of town and my 16 year old daughter, Jennie, had to be hospitalized for intense stomach pains which ended up being related to her appendix. I was in Philadelphia with my husband at a family event and despite doing everything in my power to get home, I couldn't get a plane until the next day. Fortunately, I left a health directive giving my 24 year … read more
More States Open to Medicaid Expansion
The number of state governors opposed to accepting federal dollars to expand Medicaid coverage continues to dwindle. Just recently Florida Governor Rick Scott indicated his willingness to adopt the expansion after having voiced strong opposition to the idea ever since the Supreme Court’s ruling on the law allowed states to choose to opt-out of the expansion provisions. Ever since the … read more
Getting Help for Mom and Dad
Whether you have been thinking about getting your elderly parents some assistance or have made it your New Year’s resolution to make life easier for them, adult children with elderly parents need to take some time to consider exactly what kind of help and assistance your parents might need. In such a situation there are several steps you can take to help determine what kind of care is … read more
The Modernization of Medicaid by the States
Regardless of the decision by individual states to accept or reject the Medicaid expansion called for by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), all states have to make changes to their Medicaid enrollment systems in order to be in compliance with the PPACA provisions, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. And, according to the results of a state survey that was conducted … read more
Estate Planning Basics: The Differences Between Wills and Trusts
When people in Greensboro, North Carolina want to create a will, they often hear from their estate planning attorney that a trust is, for many situations, a much better option. While you may have heard of a trust before, you may not exactly know how they operate or why they can be beneficial. It’s best to speak to your lawyer about the different kinds of trusts and how you can use them, … read more
More Families Staying in the Same Home
America is changing, and sometimes in ways people don’t always expect. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that more and more Americans are living in households with multiple generations. According to figures released late last year, about 5.6% of American families are living in multigenerational homes. That equates to about 4.3 million households throughout the country. While … read more
What the Fiscal Cliff Agreement Means For Your Estate
It’s February and the fiscal cliff drama has faded since the president and Congress reached an agreement. In all the news coverage surrounding the story, the last-minute negotiations, and the subsequent deal, you may have missed the practical effects the deal has on your estate plan. While many people won’t need to worry about the estate planning elements of the fiscal cliff deal, there … read more
22 States Favor Medicaid Expansion
Many of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) are set to go into effect at the end of this year, including the expansion of Medicaid. After the Supreme Court held that states could not be forced to expand their Medicaid offerings, the provision has become a lightning rod for both opponents and supporters of the PPACA. As a result, the PPACA is off to … read more
3 Questions on Changing the Terms of a Living Trust
If you already have created a living trust but are thinking about changing some of its terms, there are some things you should know, and they may be found in the paragraphs below. Even if you have never heard of a living trust but are beginning to consider your estate planning options, the following paragraphs will provide you with some basic information about the living trust. 1. … read more
