I have to decide between my two children, who should be my power of attorney when I need help communicating with doctors and handling my financial matters. Can't I just name them both? You can, but please don't. You risk…
You would hope your living will is properly prepared and your resuscitation instructions or DNR (do not resuscitate) are in order. While your wishes in a living will may be appropriately documented, that does not guarantee the instructions will be…
In estate planning, it is common that parents divide the inheritance equally among the children. But sometimes, parents intentionally choose to not leave anything to a child, and the reasons for doing so may vary. One reason could be that…
Most young adults don’t consider estate planning a priority. Young adults in their twenties and thirties often think they don't own enough to constitute an estate. However, an estate is the total of all you own – money, investments, real…
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new drug under the trademark Aduhelm™ to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The drug, Aducanumab, is a therapeutic drug that clinically demonstrates a potential to delay further decline from Alzheimer's disease and…
Hotel heiress Leona Helmsley left a trust fund for her Maltese dog named “Trouble” to the tune of $12 million dollars in 2007. Unfortunately, pet inheritances ever since have enjoyed a dubious reputation. The Value of an Animal Trust for…
You may have seen a friend or loved one suffer for a long time with Alzheimer’s. In the final stages of this and other dementia diseases, there comes a time when the person can no longer speak, recognize loved ones,…
Elder law and estate planning are similar in concern, but they have significant differences. 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…
Currently, there are 58 million special needs Americans five years of age or older, which is the single greatest minority in the nation. The majority of federal and state benefits available to help persons with disabilities are needs-based, meaning income…
The need for estate planning becomes more and more critical as we age. Many people avoid estate planning because they do not want to think about the end of life, failing health, or disability. Others believe that an estate plan…