October 19, 2023

If you are a first responder—police officer, firefighter, EMT, etc.—you put your life at risk every day when you go to work. Beyond the workplace, the high level of occupational stress also puts you at greater risk for long-term health problems, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, cancer, and suicide. That is why first […]

Federal estate tax law includes a provision called portability. This provision only applies to married couples. It allows the surviving spouse to use any part of their deceased spouse’s unused estate and gift tax exemption. Including portability in an estate plan protects the surviving spouse from significant estate tax bills if the deceased spouse’s estate

As your parent grows older, you may wonder what would happen if they could no longer make sound decisions on their own. Often, gaining power of attorney for your parent is the most straightforward way to ensure their best interests are protected. Many older adults grant powers of attorney to adult children to ensure they

Outlining your final wishes is essential to ensure that your assets are passed to their intended recipients as smoothly as possible after you die. If you have done the diligent work of putting your estate plan into place, you may believe that you have completed all the necessary steps. However, while you may believe your

Individuals who have disabilities often require government assistance to cover the costs of professional support and care. However, programs such as Medicaid and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) are means-tested, so eligibility is determined based on an individual’s or family’s income and assets. People who have disabilities must carefully manage their finances in a way that

You might have heard the term “community spouse” and wondered what it means. Essentially, if one spouse receives long-term care in a nursing home, the spouse living outside the nursing home is considered the community spouse. Here, our legal team explains why community spouses are important. Continue reading to learn more or contact one of

A funeral is a traditional method of honoring a person’s life after death. However, some people don’t feel comfortable having one. Choosing not to have a funeral is entirely acceptable. Your loved ones don’t have to attend the sad event if you want to spare them the burden. If you don’t have a funeral, other

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. It prevents people from talking, walking, and, eventually, breathing. Typically, patients diagnosed with ALS die within three to five years of their diagnosis from respiratory failure. However, some live longer. Approximately 20,000 people in

Designating your estate as the beneficiary of your IRA might make sense to you. It’s simpler than choosing one or several loved ones as beneficiaries. It can also prevent future arguments and lawsuits among your family since you’re not naming one person over another. However, naming an estate as an IRA beneficiary is problematic and

Many people confuse dementia and mental illness. Although dementia can affect mental health, it isn’t a mental illness. It is a brain disorder that causes issues with communication and memory loss. Sometimes, people with dementia display troubling behavioral problems, such as physical violence, verbal outbursts, and aggression. When someone with dementia starts acting violently, knowing