by

iStock_000018435449SmallIf you’re like most people, you may believe that once you’re in a nursing home, you’re there for good. Thanks to a federally funded program, Connecticut residents who have been institutionalized in a nursing home now have the option of transitioning back to the community. The program is called Money Follows the Person.

If you are a resident of a nursing home, the facility is required to ask you: “Do you want to talk with someone about the possibility of leaving this facility and returning to live and receive services in the community?”

If you answer yes, you can be referred to Money Follows the Person. You must be in a nursing home for 90 days to be eligible, but you can start the process any time before discharge. Anyone can refer you – the facility, a family member, your attorney or you. Continue reading

by

iStock_000026177458Small-300x281If 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 lot of uncertainty, which can be scary. 

Being prepared is one of the most effective ways to alleviate anxiety caused by uncertainty. 

While none of us can hope to fully control the current situation, there are things each of us can do to help ensure that we have fewer things to worry about in case of dire emergency. 

Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_111401441-300x200
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 of ensuring that everyone is prepared for whatever may come. 

Right now, such conversations may seem almost inappropriate. The entire global population is dealing with the frightening and life-changing experience of living with a pandemic. Our minds are focused on day-to-day needs and the swiftly changing news, not long-term financial planning. On the other hand, the reality of the situation is drawing attention to places where we might want to ensure a little more certainty, including addressing big questions about estate planning and other money matters. 

Why this is such an important conversation

Continue reading

by

By Colleen Masse

AdobeStock_46432121-300x290We’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 get something accomplished while quarantined, I have a challenge for you: review your estate plan.

Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_301232145-300x200With most of the country under stay-at-home orders to combat the spread of the coronavirus, even the most reluctant among us are becoming better acquainted with our kitchens. As you burn through your culinary repertoires (and continue to avoid trips to the market and/or find that grocery delivery services are running weeks behind), you may be looking for creative ways to add a little variety and excitement to your meals.

Just maybe, a meal kit delivery service is just the thing you need.

These services come in a variety of styles, price points, and skill levels. They are great for people who are just learning to cook, for people who are too busy to do their own meal planning, and for folks who just want to bust themselves out of a cooking rut. They are also an especially appealing option in these days of self isolation and social distancing because they deliver everything you need right to your home.

Continue reading

by

The way forward railwayDo 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 can and will change in our lives, and when they do, make sure you adjust your estate plans and beneficiary designations accordingly. Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_33109325-300x200This is the final installment of our 3-part series on becoming your parent’s healthcare advocate. In the first part, Being a Healthcare Advocate: How to Get Started, we learned how to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition. In part two, Being a Healthcare Advocate: 9 Important Tips, we tackled how to manage documentation and record keeping. In this final piece, we address best practices for working effectively with healthcare professionals.

The first time you attend a doctor’s appointment as your parent’s healthcare advocate, you might feel a little awkward. That’s natural. You’re kind of like a third wheel, stepping into what was previously a very private and intimate conversation.

To prepare for this, it’s helpful to establish preferences and expectations with your parent up front. Does your parent want to take the lead and just have you present as an extra set of eyes and ears, or will you be taking a more active role in communicating with the doctor. Talk with your parent in advance so you are both on the same page with your game plan.

Continue reading

by

AdobeStock_295677330-300x206We are living in some pretty surreal times right now. Things are changing so quickly that it’s almost impossible to keep up with the news. Our daily routines have been upended, and our daily conversations with friends and family are all focused on the same topic: the coronavirus.

Few among us have ever lived through a crisis so intense and so global in nature. It’s no wonder that our stress and anxiety levels are through the roof.

But humans are amazingly resilient and adaptable creatures. Even in the midst of all the uncertainty and chaos, people are finding beautiful ways to extend small kindnesses and create joy.

Continue reading

by

By Linda Raineault

exclamation sign red circle 3d modern design flat icon on whiteHave 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 way of an income rider that is attached to the base contract.

The sales pitch sounds fantastic!

Many contracts are sold based on a premium bonus feature and guaranteed high annual interest rates that sound fabulous in today’s low interest rate environment.

Additionally, the owner can elect to start taking the guaranteed income stream for life at any time after the contract is purchased. Continue reading

by

157H (1)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 means you have certainly taken a step in the right direction to protect your assets and ensure that they get distributed as you wish.

But you may be able to do more. Continue reading

Members of:
Contact Information
Berlin Office
15 Massirio Dr
Berlin, CT 06037
Simsbury Office
92 Hopmeadow St
Simsbury, CT 06089
South Windsor Office
1741 Ellington Rd 2nd Floor
South Windsor, CT 06074
New Milford Office
15 S Main St
New Milford, CT 06776
Madison Office
64 Wall St
Madison, CT 06443
Phone: (860) 236-7673 Fax: (866) 540-4616

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2016 – 2024, Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design
pixel