What is “Divorce Monday”? The first working Monday of the New Year is the day many couples decide it’s time to call it quits. January has become for divorce attorneys what April is to tax attorneys – the busiest month of the year. By some reports, the volume of business…
By Carmine Perri Imagine yourself in this situation: As a favor, you agree to help your spouse’s parent get settled into a nursing home. If you’re like most people, you’d be emotionally stressed and feeling a bit guilty. Not exactly the best mindset for absorbing complex information nor for making…
By Paul T. Czepiga Connecticut residents are exposed to both a federal estate tax and a Connecticut estate tax if their net worth at death exceed a certain level. Unfortunately, the net worth level at which these taxes apply, and how they apply, is different for the federal estate tax…
You did well financially, and when the time came to move to assisted living you never considered the possibility that you might run out of money. But you didn’t expect to live this long! And now that you need more help, it’s even more expensive to live. What do you…
This is the first in a two-part series about the realities of and remedies for sibling rivalry over family inheritance. The 2nd part in the series “How to Keep the Kids from Fighting Over Their Inheritance” provides tips on how to avoid these kinds of conflicts. “Mom always liked you best,”…
What happens to your spouse’s Social Security benefits if they die? Are you entitled to them as the surviving spouse? In general, yes. If your spouse who has passed had paid into Social Security long enough, you may be eligible to collect their benefits. These are known as Survivor Benefits.…
Independent Living. Assisted Living. Nursing Home. What do these terms mean? How are they different from each other? And which one is right for you? Take a look here to learn what each one is all about. Independent Living Maybe you’re starting to think that a little more help would…
It 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…
This is the second installment of a two-part series about the realities of and remedies for sibling rivalry over family inheritance. For more about what causes and complicates sibling rivalry, read Inheritance: The #1 Cause of Adult Sibling Rivalry. In part one of this series, we learned just how prevalent…
Assets count when it comes to qualifying for Medicaid, but some assets related to your funeral expenses are excluded, and prepaying them is an acceptable way to spend down your assets to qualify for Medicaid, or Title XIX. Specifically, here’s what the State of Connecticut allows: Irrevocable Funeral Trust or…