No one looks forward to conversations about death and finances.
At best, such topics are uncomfortable.
And you introduce a whole other layer of complexity when the conversation in question is with your adult children and other family members who will be personally affected by your estate planning decisions.
Good news! You can take a hearing test over the phone.
That’s right, the National Institute of Health has provided a grant to support this easy test that you can take in the privacy of your home.
No one wants to admit they’re losing their hearing, but according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) hearing loss is a reality for more than a third of people age 65 to 74, and more than half of those over the age of 75.
These numbers make it one of the most prevalent health issues for older Americans. Only arthritis and heart disease affect more seniors. Continue reading
According to a 2019 estimate by the University of Minnesota approximately 7.39 million people in the United States are living with an intellectual or developmental disability known as IDD.
Typically present at birth or starting in childhood, IDDs adversely impact a person in one or more of the following ways:
Caring for an aging loved one can be a very challenging responsibility, even under the best of circumstances. But, when the caring must be done long distance, you add a whole other layer of complexity and difficulty.
Even an hour’s distance can increase hardship exponentially in the context of our always too-busy lives.
According to recent studies, long-distance caregivers represent more than 1 in 10 of the country’s estimated 53 million family caregivers. (Long-distance caregivers are those who live an hour or more from their care recipient.) And, as expected, long-distance caregivers tend to have a heavier financial and emotional burden than caregivers who are caring for loved ones who either live with them or live locally.
Contesting a Will or other transfers on the grounds that the person signing the Will lacked the capacity to do so, is both difficult and emotional. But it’s something that comes up quite frequently in our practice.
In Connecticut, there are two different standards to determine capacity:
Classic television is home to its share of unique roommate situations. There’s Felix and Oscar (the original odd couple); Mork & Mindy (a human and an alien); Jack, Janet, and Chrissy from Three’s Company; and the venerated “Golden Girls” (who were clearly ahead of their time).
Across the country, retirees are opening their homes to young people, offering relatively inexpensive housing in exchange for light housework, help with errands, and even just company.
Most people are aware that there are steps you should consider to protect your assets from being liquidated to pay for long-term care. And to protect your heirs from the burden of heavy estate taxes upon your passing.
However, are you aware of the related risks associated with the capital gains tax?
The practice of elder law is a little different than most other legal niches. As opposed to being defined by the type of legal issues they handle, elder law attorneys are more often defined by the individuals they help – primarily older persons.
Elder law attorneys work with this population and their families or representatives to advocate and address legal issues related to elder care such as health and long-term care planning, caregiving, navigating government benefits, financial elder exploitation, estate planning, legal capacity counsel, retirement planning, aging in place, and the like.
An elder law attorney offers knowledge, understanding, and guidance when it comes to the ins and outs of long-term care planning. In an ever more costly and changing care environment, they can help evaluate options and develop strategies for paying for long-term care costs and examine and advise on interrelated issues and concerns.
Probate is often something that people wish that they could avoid.
The truth is that probate is not an inherently bad thing, nor something to be fearful of. In fact, it can be a very helpful process that offers an independent entity – the probate court – to oversee and ensure that a decedent’s wishes are met.
But it is also true that there are certain situations where you would want to do some advanced planning designed to avoid probate. To get a better picture of when and why someone would want to avoid probate, let’s first review what probate is and the function of the probate court.
Keeping fit is a critical part of aging well, but it can sometimes be a challenge to find an exercise that’s enjoyable as well as beneficial. If this is a familiar conundrum, racket sports might be the answer you’re looking for.
When it comes to physical activity, racket sports stand out as versatile and pleasurable options that are accessible to people of all ages.
But for those over 65, engaging in racket sports like tennis, badminton, and even the increasingly popular pickleball can be particularly beneficial. Not only do these sports offer a fun way to stay active, they also provide a range of health benefits that can enhance overall well-being.
Connecticut Estate Planning Attorneys Blog