When a marriage breaks up and there are children involved, the ideal situation is when both parents cooperate for the benefit of their children. This is especially true for parents of a special needs child. The very best time to start planning for a child with special needs is at…
By Kathleen Michalak “Live long and prosper” is a blessing made famous by the TV series Star Trek. But living a long life can be a mixed blessing, when care needs increase, and finances decrease. When assets are depleted, Medicaid is a safety net you want to look into. It…
By Lara Schneider-Bomzer Have you ever been on the phone with a friend living in another state and the topic of long term care health needs comes up? Your friend in New York tells you that she has a neighbor who immediately received Medicaid home care benefits after transferring all…
The worst estate planning mistake you can make is failing to have a plan. The second worst mistake is assuming that if you have a plan, you’re done. The truth is that regularly reviewing and updating your estate plan is an absolutely critical part of responsible estate planning. Defining your…
When medical tragedy strikes, family and friends may rally around an injured person. In the most serious instances – especially those that result in catastrophic injury or illness – the friend you were laughing with just yesterday may now be compromised for life. And, if the injured party was the…
Modern law offers a variety of ways for individuals to manage, distribute, and protect their property, whether it be for their own benefit or for that of a loved one. A well-known, and yet seemingly complex, mechanism for doing so is a trust. But what does this mean for you,…
Some words in your Last Will and Testament may seem like a foreign language to you, but they could have significant impact on your beneficiaries. Per stirpes, a Latin phrase that means “by the roots,” is used in many Wills to define how your estate is divided upon your death.…
Family members of individuals with intellectual disabilities go to extraordinary lengths to provide their loved ones with proper supports, services, and care. Establishing guardianship is often a necessary part of protecting the health and safety of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Yet, while many people are generally familiar with the concept…
By Carmine Perri About once a week the topic of spousal liability creeps its way into a client meeting or a telephone conference. Despite the question being posed to me in various different ways, the issue simply boils down to whether one spouse is liable for another spouse’s debt. I,…
Thinking of creating your own Will or other estate planning documents? After all, there are lots of web sites with legal document templates available – they make it sound easy. And of course there’s the cost savings. Why pay a Connecticut estate planning lawyer for something you can do on your…