Connecticut Estate Planning Attorneys Blog

December 19, 2022

2022 Super Lawyers and a Rising Star!

We are pleased to announce once again our attorneys have been named to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list for 2022!

Attorneys Brendan Daly and Carmine Perri were among the recipients of this recognition in the Elder Law practice area, and Attorney Andrew Veale was named a “Rising Star” in recognition of his work in the Estate and Trust Litigation practice area.

As a firm, we take pride delivering top-notch client service to Connecticut residents and have done so for over 20 years. We are delighted to work with such a strong team of attorneys who have been recognized by New England Super Lawyers Magazine, year after year over the past decade.

December 13, 2022

Supporting an Important Cause with Our Hearts (And Our Feet!)

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

There are very few of us who do not have or know an acquaintance, friend, relative, or loved one who has not, in some way, been touched by Alzheimer’s Disease.

In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Connecticut Chapter, there are currently:

80,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease in Connecticut, and;

December 6, 2022

Gift Tax 101: What You Need to Know

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

Giving gifts is a nice thing to do for a friend or family member, but, as the saying goes, “no good deed goes unpunished” – at least when it comes to the IRS.

The federal government imposes a gift tax that is currently 40%. And if you live in Connecticut, your gift may also be subject to the one-and-only state-level gift tax in the country. Lucky you.

The good news is that because of the annual and lifetime gifting exemptions as well as several categories of gifts that are not subject to the gift tax at all, the majority of Americans will rarely (if ever) have to pay a gift tax.

November 29, 2022

Buyer Beware: 6 Tips to a Safer Online Shopping Experience

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

Browse. Click. Pay. Online shopping is just that easy.

And while there’s a lot to be said for shopping locally and supporting small businesses, there’s no denying that online shopping is super convenient.

After all, where else can you find almost anything you want, place an order in minutes, and have your heart’s desire arrive on your doorstep in a matter of days or hours?

November 15, 2022

Why the Kitchen is the Heart of Your Home

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

By: Jill Brightman

The slightest aroma of sugar and vanilla can transport me instantly back in time to my grandmother’s kitchen. Each time I would visit, she always had my favorite – sugar cookies with a cherry in the middle – waiting to welcome me.

This happy recollection of my childhood, like so many other special memories, is undeniably intertwined with the vivid smells of the sweet treats I made in the kitchen with my grandparents, my mother, and now with my own children.

November 9, 2022

3 Healthcare Documents that You Should Understand

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

It’s so confusing! HIPAA, Health Care Directives, Powers of Attorney. How does one differ from the others?

A HIPAA Authorization, a Health Care Directive, and a Health Care Power of Attorney can easily be confused because all three have to do with your permission about your medical care and medical information.

Plus, both health care directives (aka living wills) and health care powers of attorney are known as “advance directives,” which only adds to the confusion.

October 27, 2022

How Pet-assisted Therapy Helps Dementia Patients

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

There’s a reason why cats and dogs seem to rule the internet.

Most of us get a little jolt of dopamine when viewing pictures and videos of these furry creatures being charming, silly, and deeply endearing. There’s no denying the age-old connection between our hearts and these lovable animals.

It also turns out that spending time with animals—especially companion animals, but other kinds as well—can help people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia lead happier, healthier lives.

October 17, 2022

Staying Connected through Melodies: Music and Dementia

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

Music is, quite literally, the soundtrack of our lives.

Music is a vehicle for memories, emotions, and healing. It can lift our spirits, calm our souls, help us fall in love, and bring us to tears. Our favorite songs become part of our emotional DNA. Even long after decades have passed by, we can still sing along perfectly because each and every word and nuance of melody is imprinted on our hearts.

Music also has deep connections with memory. Just consider how hearing the first few bars of a certain song can take you back through time to your first kiss, a high school dance, your best friend’s wedding, a family road trip, or an ordinary afternoon with your toddler. In a way, creating playlists of our favorite music from different phases in our lives is like creating an auditory scrapbook.

October 4, 2022

Calling All Millennials—It’s Time to Plan.

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

It may be hard to believe, but the fact is, millennials are all grown up. They are buying homes, starting families, and caring for aging parents. Also, they are—at 22% of the population—the largest living generation in the U.S.

In 2021, Trust & Will did a proprietary study involving 22,850 millennials. The results included many insights into how and why people ages 25 to 44 are creating estate plans.

For instance, while many respondents created a Will or a trust for the usual reasons (34% said that becoming a parent was the inspiration, and 17% said that the pandemic was what made them take action), others are taking a non-traditional approach to estate planning.

September 27, 2022

The Day the Music Died: What Happens When There is No Will?

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

Prince, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley, Billie Holiday, Barry White, Sonny Bono, Tupac Shakur, Amy Winehouse, John Denver, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin.

Certainly, an impressive who’s who list of music royalty that sadly left this world far too soon. However, this wildly talented group also had another thing in common – they all died without a proper estate plan (specifically a Will) in place – or in some cases, no estate plan at all!

These are not isolated cases. According to a Gallup Poll, more than 1/3 of Americans with an annual household income of $100,000 or more do not have a Last Will and Testament, and a staggering 54% of all adults have no Will!

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