When it comes to establishing wills and estate plans, older Americans outpace their younger counterparts. Still, a significant number — 19 percent of those over age 72 and 42 percent of those between 53 and 71, according to survey data — lack any type of estate plan.

The short answer: Both share similar concerns. The longer answer? The differences make all the difference. The Concerns are Similar No matter what age we're in, life can deliver some hard knocks. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. We can get into accidents, especially when we're young a...

According to the US Census Bureau, more than 51 million Americans are currently aged 65 or older, and the number is steadily increasing while medical and technological advancements are allowing seniors to live longer and better lives than ever before.

Contemplating our own death is one of the hardest challenges we will ever have to face. Yet, if we want our dying to be meaningful and merciful, it is imperative that we think about it while we still can.

When people marry for the second time (or more), losing assets to pay for their new spouse’s serious illness is probably the last thing on their minds when they say “I do.” But that could happen.

There are 58 million Americans five years of age or older that are identified as special needs making them the largest single minority in this country. The majority of federal and state benefits available to help persons with disabilities are needs based, meaning income and assets are strictly li...

What to do? Plan ahead! There are several ways to provide for your special needs dependent and stay within government guidelines for additional benefits. One of the best ways is to establish a special needs trust that has the specific purpose of supplementing federal and state assistance programs. By doing so, a disabled loved one can benefit from government programs, and have additional money to supplement what those programs provide. There are strict rules when it comes to creating special needs trusts for a disabled family member. There are also restrictions on what the money can be used for. We can help you determine what type of trust is best based on you and your loved one’s particular circumstances. Give us a call at your convenience to set up a time to discuss your situation further.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer's affects a growing number of peopl...

As part of my elder law practice, I help seniors and their families to prevent the devastating financial consequences that can result from Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

You may think your living will is in order, including instructions regarding resuscitation commonly referred to as a DNR (do not resuscitate). While your wishes in a living will may be appropriately documented, that does not guarantee the instructions will be carried out as you stated. The unfort...

As an estate planning and elder law attorney, I can help you determine which documents best suit your current needs, and help you clearly state your wishes in those documents. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you with these important planning steps.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released new eligibility rules for the VA pension program. VA pension, a tax-free monthly cash benefit, is available to wartime Veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty service with 1 day during a declared period of war. Surviving spouse...

In general, a trust is created when property or assets are managed by a person for another person's benefit. The person or entity who manages the trust is known as the “trustee” and is entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions in the best interest of the person who benefits from the t...

A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It allows someone who you appoint (your agent or attorney-in-fact) to make decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated. If you have not appointed an agent then your friends and fami...

VA pension benefits, also known as Aid and Attendance, are an important resource for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who have high home care and assisted living costs. For example, in Michigan, assisted living can cost about $2,500.00 to $6,000.00 per month. Married veterans could re...

Your parent is getting on in age, but you don't have a clear idea if there is a plan in place for their care. It is a difficult topic to broach; no one wants to talk about getting older and the financial realities that come with aging. Instead of having a proactive conversation early in a parent'...

When someone you love, in particular, your spouse, becomes ill you want to help them get well. But what happens when the illness is dementia? A marital relationship that could have spanned years or decades becomes subject to enormous change, and that change is not a slow linear progression of pre...

Long-term care insurance is very beneficial for the elderly or disabled person who need will services or support to meet their personal care or health needs. However, it is important to understand long-term care insurance before the time comes when the benefits are needed. Unfortunately, many peo...

What is Hospice Care?  Hospice care can be very difficult for families to come to terms with, but can be a beneficial care option for those caring for a terminally ill loved one. The purpose of hospice care is to provide comfort and quality of life for a terminally ill person. Hospice care can a...

Many elderly people who are diagnosed with dementia are unprepared for future care. Once this type of diagnosis is received, preparing for the future can no longer be avoided. If you or someone you love has received a dementia diagnosis, begin immediately to discuss and seek guidance for future c...

The importance of making end of life preparations cannot be stressed enough. Many put off making these plans thinking there is always time to do it later. The sad reality is that none of us are guaranteed time. Others may be bothered by the thought of death itself and allow this to paralyze them ...

Long term care (LTC) is a term that has many parts to its definition. It is comprised of a variety of services that meet medical and non-medical requirements for people who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time. It is a highly individualized care system which can be formally or info...

Jane lived alone in her home in Troy after her husband died and the kids moved away. A few years later, she started to forget things, like putting the kettle on to boil and coming back to find the stove on fire. This, together with her diabetes and osteoporosis, seemed to Jane's daughter Carolyn ...

Jack and Doris wanted to divide their property equally between their three children. The house should to go to daughter Mary who loved it, and the rest of their estate should be apportioned equally between sons Bob and Frank. Jack and Doris's attorney drafted a will distributing the modest remai...