Recent Blog Posts
Advanced Planning May Reduce the Risk of Elder Exploitation
It is a scenario Florida elder law attorneys have seen too many times. A potential client comes to the office to discuss her mother’s situation. Mom has been suffering from dementia for almost a year, but it is rapidly getting worse. When the client went to pay some of her mother’s bills, she noticed… Read More »
Life Insurance Scams on the Rise
Daniel Powell, a 34-year-old San Diego man, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison last month for conning seniors out of more than $5 million. How? He ultimately did so using life insurance policies. Unlike many financial scams that focus on the promise of riches or quick money, these scams often focus on… Read More »
Florida Retirement Once Again an Attractive Option for Seniors
Between 2007 and 2009, the economic crisis in America resulted in widespread foreclosures. But certain regions were hit worse than others. For this reason, on February 19, 2010, President Obama unveiled a program known as the Hardest Hit Fund, which would provide substantial financial resources from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in order… Read More »
I Was Named the Executor? Now What?
If you are like most people, you may have not seen your parents’ wills. That is, of course, assuming they have wills. Likewise, you may have not asked your siblings, spouse or other loved ones if they would kindly let you inspect theirs either. Death and estate planning are difficult topics for most people… Read More »
Veterans’ Burial Benefits
Often lamented as one of the biggest government bureaucracies in America, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be quite difficult to navigate. The VA does far more than manage pensions and disability compensations. It offers many other benefits that are far less publicized. For instance, the VA offers reimbursement of burial expenses for… Read More »
Dispute over B.B. King’s Estate: Executors and their Role
According to NBC, blues legend B.B. King’s will is being contested by family members. Specifically, King’s heirs are challenging the will’s named executor, LaVerne Toney. Toney was King’s longtime business manager, as well as King’s power-of-attorney. King’s family – a representative board of five of King’s 11 surviving children – claims that Toney isolated… Read More »
Changing Family Structures Impact Estate Planning
Family structures and dynamics have changed drastically over the last several decades. The New York Times reports that the birthrate in the U.S. is half of what it was in 1960. Fewer women are having children – 10% fewer women are having children than in the 1970s, and 41% of children are born to… Read More »
What You Need to Know About Guardianship
On April 27, 2015, according to the Bradenton Herald, the Florida Senate passed a bill that changed the way that guardians are appointed and also added additional protections against exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Figuring out guardianship can be complicated, and it’s important to protect those who are most vulnerable. What is Guardianship? Guardianship is… Read More »
Medicaid Planning: Medicaid’s Five-Year Lookback Rule
A major concern for people as they get older is their housing situation. While some people own their homes, and plan on remaining there, others retire and purchase homes or move into new communities. Sometimes, even if someone plans on staying in their home, circumstances change and they need to explore options that provide… Read More »
What is a Will and Do I Need One?
The prospect of estate planning can be daunting. There are different instruments – wills, trusts, powers of attorney – and they can be difficult to understand. It can be complicated to figure out which instruments are best for you. A good place to start is to understand your options. What are wills? Wills are… Read More »
