Contrary to popular belief, a Will or Last Will and Testament, isn’t always written in stone. Quite frequently, disputes arise over the contents of a Will and the parties who are at odds must seek outside help to resolve the issues. Because there are often conflicts of interest around such…
If you have custody of your minor child and your spouse is paying child support, chances are your spouse was required by court order to maintain a life insurance policy for the benefit of the child. So what happens if your spouse dies and your child is the beneficiary…
If we’re honest, most of us have spent some time in the last few weeks thinking about mortality—our own and that of our loved ones. It’s not surprising given the fact that we’re living through a pandemic that has caused unprecedented disruptions to our daily lives. We’re dealing with a…
There is no perfect time to talk with your parents about their finances. No matter when you bring it up or how you broach the subject, it’s bound to be awkward for you—the adult child—and your parents. Be that as it may, having “The Money Talk” is a critical part…
By Colleen Masse We’re all home for the foreseeable future and many of us find we have a little extra time for projects. My sister is cleaning out her closets, my friend is painting her living room, my son is taking online guitar lessons. If you have the urge to…
Do you know right now, without looking, who your beneficiaries are in your Will, life insurance or 401K? With good intentions and operating on the best information we have at the time, we make important estate planning decisions about who should receive our wealth when are no longer here. Things…
By Linda Raineault Have you heard the sales pitch? There are annuities available that contain provisions known as “nursing home income doublers” that can help you pay for the cost of a nursing home stay. These provisions are found in annuity contracts that guarantee the purchaser an income stream for life…
By Carmine Perri Because of my practice area, probate and elder law litigation, I oftentimes find myself in either the courtroom or the hallway with a client fielding this all too common question: “What could we have done to avoid all of this?” You probably have an estate plan which…
If a trust is part of your estate plan, you should pay attention to a new Connecticut law that went into effect January 1st. Chances are you would not be interested in reading the recently adopted Connecticut Uniform Trust Code (UTC), which is over 100 pages long! But there are…
The loss of a pet is heartbreaking. But have you thought about what happens to your pet, when you die? Your pets depend on you, they are loyal to you. They know they can count on you. You can only imagine their sense of loss when you’re no longer in…