by

AdobeStock_143996409-300x148In the first installment of this series we provided an overview of some key organizing and planning tips to help make long-distance caregiving easier. This week, we’re looking at how to build a strong support team and network to help you care for your loved one. Hopefully, you do not have to care for your loved one all on your own. But even if you have a small family or are the only person available on a regular basis, there are other people and resources you can integrate into your caregiving team.

Family

If you have other family members who will be lending a hand, it’s a good idea to have a family meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s important to decide who will be the primary giver and what each person’s roles and responsibilities will be.

Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_205385891-300x200Caring 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.

In this first part of a 2-part blog post, we’ll give you some steps you can take that will make your new role a bit easier.

According to recent studies, approximately 5 to 7 million caregivers in the U.S. are long-distance caregivers. These people currently represent almost 15% of all caregivers in the U.S., and their numbers are expected to double by 2020. 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.

Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_142240831-300x200It may seem odd to ask young parents to think about estate planning, but starting a family is actually the perfect reason to address some really important questions. After all, becoming a parent isn’t just about choosing names and picking out nursery colors. It’s about being wholly responsible for someone else—a child—for life.

While it’s difficult to even contemplate the unthinkable, it’s imperative that new parents plan for every possibility to ensure that their children are protected, cared for, and financially secure.

Since it may be a while since you traveled this road, here is an overview of the estate planning details young parents should address.

Continue reading

by

By E. Jennifer RealeAdobeStock_116263415-300x200

Trustees have been given an important responsibility to administer an estate. But not all trustees live up to what is expected of them. If you are having problems with a trustee and considering legal options against them but the trustee is discouraging you from taking action by denying you information, and telling you that he or she has a defense under the terms of the trust, there are some things you should know.

Here are some of the most common misconceptions about the protection a trustee can enjoy under the terms of the trust:

Continue reading

by

Longtime probate judge and retired Probate Court Administrator joins our litigation team


Paul-k-200x300We are pleased to announce our expansion into the dispute resolution practice area.  With a specific focus on probate and elder law dispute resolution, our firm now provides mediation and arbitration services. Paul Knierim, the recently retired Connecticut Probate Court Administrator, has joined the firm to lead this initiative.

During his eleven years as head of the probate court system, Paul was responsible for policy leadership and operation of all 54 of the state’s probate courts. He has been recognized for launching numerous initiatives which include the enactment of stronger judicial ethics code, expanding continuing education for judges and court staff, establishing better support and oversight for conservators and the complete overhaul of the rules of procedure that govern probate cases.

Continue reading

by

hammer-to-fall-673264-mImagine this…

After your death, your daughter is having serious financial struggles and the money you’ve bequeathed to her would pull her out of financial misery. It would help her to pay your funeral and other outstanding expenses.

But, because by law your estate must pass through probate, it will take several months before your daughter can receive the money you have  left her.

In the meantime, a disgruntled step-son from a prior marriage decides to pursue a Will contest, claiming that the Will is not valid and that he deserves some money, too. He knows the amount of the estate because the probate process is a matter of public record.

You can imagine how the rest of the story goes and how, although you had an estate plan and the best intentions Continue reading

by

receipts-300x236The saying “you can’t take it with you” is meant to remind people that no matter how much wealth you accumulate in your lifetime, you’ll have to leave it behind when you shuffle off this mortal coil. Unfortunately, for your heirs, the same goes for your debts.

Turns out that dying is no excuse for defaulting on debt. The pertinent questions then become

a) who is responsible for making good on any financial obligations, and

Continue reading

by

images-300x168The connection between humans and dogs is one that hearkens back to ancient and even prehistoric times. Archaeological evidence of canine domestication dates back some 15,000 years, and some experts believe our interspecies love affair may stretch as far back as 30,000 years ago.

While there is still some debate about just how long we humans have been vulnerable to the charms of big, sad puppy eyes and fluffy tummies, there is no question that our relationship with these animals has evolved greatly over the ages. In the earliest days, dogs helped with hunting and guarding in exchange for a share of the food and the comforts of life in a mixed-species pack.

Today, dogs are primarily cherished companions—four-legged family members. But there are still many who pull their weight by providing all kinds of valuable services to the humans they love.

Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_170542423-300x200By Jeffrey S. Rivard

Exciting news for estate planning practitioners and their clients!

Recently, on the very last day of its legislative session, Connecticut’s General Assembly enacted HB 7104 “An Act Concerning Adoption of the Connecticut Uniform Trust Code” (the “Act”).

Continue reading

by

fun young woman scolding or reprimanding with softnessWe spend our lives doing everything we can to provide for our loved ones. We work hard to make sure they have the material, emotional, and financial resources they need to feel secure and cared for.

We do whatever we can to help them achieve their goals.

But, life can be unpredictable; and you can’t plan for every potential eventuality. Life insurance provides a means by which you can preserve your family members’ well-being and ensure their ability to pursue their dreams.

And yet, many people choose not to purchase life insurance. Go figure! Continue reading

Members of: