For anyone interested in providing support to the victims of hurricane Sandy, ABC news.com has posted a list of all the reputable charitable organizations that are providing support to victims. Even if you cannot provide direct support to someone impacted by the storm, you can support those organizations that give food, emergency shelter, as well as other vital materials to the relief … read more
Common Signs of Elder Abuse
As the population continues to age, instances of elder abuse are, unfortunately, becoming more and more common. While it can be hard to spot elder abuse, especially when the elderly person is reluctant to discuss it, there are some telltale signs you can look for to help identify and prevent it. Physical Signs An elderly person who has been subjected to physical abuse will often show … read more
Aging Population Sparks Growth in Elder Care Jobs
The thousands of baby boomers who reach retirement age every day are having a big impact in the jobs sector. In addition to many baby boomer aged nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers who are retiring and leaving empty positions behind, the aging boomers are also in need of new workers who can help take care of them. According to Monster.com, the number of some health care job … read more
Spousal Disinheritances and the Elective Share – 3 Questions
Question 1: Can I disinherit my spouse? A spouse who doesn't want to leave any of his or her property to the other spouse is an unfortunately common situation. However, states have laws which prevent surviving spouses from being completely disinherited. These laws are known as spousal share or elective share laws. If a surviving spouse is not satisfied with the inheritance left behind … read more
Federal Government Warns States That Medicaid Expansion Delay May Cost Them
In the wake of this year's Supreme Court decision that overturned the Medicaid expansion requirements imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and allowed individual states to choose to opt-in or opt-out, Federal health officials have recently warned states that a delay in adopting the expansion could result in lost federal dollars. In letters sent to state officials, … read more
Beware of Medicaid Fraud
The amount of money flowing through the Medicare and Medicaid pots is a tempting target for criminals. For example, it is estimated that in 2007 approximately $23.7 billion was paid out improperly from both Medicare and Medicaid, with $12.9 billion of that coming from Medicaid. Given that the United States’ senior population, which is comprised of people 65-and-over, is expected to … read more
Some Couples Should Hire Separate Estate Planning Lawyers
While it's common for couples to get separate attorneys when they are entering into a prenuptial agreements or when they divorce, far fewer couples use different attorneys when they develop their estate plans. However, there are some occasions when spouses may want to hire their own lawyers to develop their own estate plans. Here are a couple of situations when it might be a good … read more
Grandparent’s Day Offers a Day to Celebrate the Generations
Fathers have Father's Day, mothers have Mother's Day, but what about the grandparents? Though it isn't an official holiday, there is a Grandparent's Day. This year it falls on September 9th, and it offers a great way for families to celebrate the generations. The first Sunday of September following Labor Day was officially made national Grandparents Day after President Jimmy Carter … read more
Key Elder Care Documents Your Parents Need Now
For adult children with elderly parents, helping your parents prepare for the future can be as simple as helping them create the right legal documents. Many elderly parents are reluctant to create some these documents because they believe that once they do they will lose certain rights. It's important to always remember that your parents will always be able to choose what they do and do … read more
Using Jointly Owned Property in North Carolina to Avoid Probate
Many people hear that avoiding probate is a good thing, but they don't really know how it works or what they have to do to make sure property stays out of the probate process. One common way you can avoid probate is to own property jointly with someone else. Joint property is often one of the easiest forms of probate avoidance property to create, though it isn't perfect. Tenancy by … read more
