It might seem confusing to think about estate planning vs. elder law as you begin to plan your future, both financially and in terms of health care. Estate planning and elder law also have some similarities. Even though these two types…
It can be difficult and emotionally draining to contemplate financial matters and make long-term life decisions via estate planning. However, it is crucial to wisely manage your assets while aging and provide for the family members who will survive you. Your…
Can you make your own healthcare decisions if you become seriously ill or accidentally injured? You don’t have to be old to become incapacitated. A living will, a component of an advance health care directive can outline your wishes so that…
It is inevitable that siblings will compete in most families. Depending on how your family interacts and how their dynamics are, old rivalries can become more significant when a parent passes away. Adult children who are emotionally upset and in the…
A living will describes medical preferences that will be followed if you are incapacitated and are unable to decide for yourself. Incapacity can happen for many reasons, including an accident, an illness rendering you too sick to communicate, dementia, anesthesia,…
The federal estate tax law and the generations skipping tax (GST) exemptions are complex and ever-changing, and you may need to update your estate plan annually to adapt. On the first day of 2026, the federal tax assessment on estates…
The estate planning of children with special needs presents a unique challenge. Optimizing your estate to use, enhance, and enrich assets for your special needs child while maintaining their enrollment in public benefits programs requires careful planning. An estate planning…
It is the responsibility of a personal representative (executor) to publish a public record of the date of death of a testator, usually in a local newspaper. In part, this information serves as notice to creditors if the decedent has…
Estate planning is considered essential by most older adults. Yet, nearly half of Americans age 55 or more do not have a will, and even fewer have designated powers of attorney, a living will, or health care directives. These documents…
The importance of advance care planning and directives is as strong as ever after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Responses to vaccinations and understanding their efficacy, reinfection potential, and long-haul symptoms resulting from COVID-19 continue to baffle our scientific understanding. It…