News & Articles

It Is Important to Designate a Contingent Beneficiary for Your IRA

April 12th, 2016

A recent IRS private letter ruling highlights why it is important to designate a contingent beneficiary for your IRA in case the primary beneficiary predeceases you. Individual retirement accounts are an important part of many estate plans. By design… Read More

Tags: Beneficiary, estate planning, IRA, IRS

Medicare Options

April 11th, 2016

When signing up for Medicare benefits it is important to know your options and how they might interact with your current healthcare coverage. For most Americans over the age of 65 the benefits of Medicare are obvious. It provides affordable health ca… Read More

Tags: age, benefits, current affairs, Elder Law, healthcare, Medicare

Taxes on Social Security Benefits

April 8th, 2016

Many people are surprised to learn that their Social Security retirement benefits might be subject to federal income taxes. Many Americans are surprised to learn that they can be taxed on their Social Security retirement benefits as explained in My S… Read More

Tags: Elder Law, , Tax

Same-Sex Couples May Still Have Special Estate Planning Needs

April 7th, 2016

Despite the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S., many older same-sex couples still face challenges and need special estate planning. The decision by the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the U.… Read More

Tags: estate planning, law, marriage, power of attorney, same-sex marriage, trust, weddings, will

Social Security Is Not as Doomed as You Might Think

April 6th, 2016

If you listen to some politicians and alarmist headlines, then you might reach the conclusion that the Social Security system is doomed to fail at any time. The reality is that while the system needs adjustments the situation is not completely broken… Read More

Tags: Elder Law,

Are Americans Confused about Taxing the Rich?

April 5th, 2016

A new poll reveals that the majority of Americans agree with eliminating the estate tax, which suggests that they want to lower taxes on the wealthy. The same poll also suggests, however, that the majority of Americans want to increase taxes on the r… Read More

Categories: Current Affairs, Estate Planning, Taxes, Weblogs

Tags: Estate Tax, Tax Reform

Women Live Longer than Men but Not Healthier

April 4th, 2016

A new study reveals that women can still expect to live longer than men on average. However, women suffer from more disabilities in those extra years. For some time, estate planning for older married couples has been based in part on the assumption t… Read More

Tags: Elder Law, estate planning

Splitting a Farm to Keep It in the Family

April 1st, 2016

Farmers who have more than one child have an estate planning dilemma. The most valuable property that they have is almost always the land and the farm equipment. If all of the children are not interested in farming, it can be difficult to give them a… Read More

Tags: estate planning, Farms, succession

How to Apply for Social Security

March 31st, 2016

When to apply for Social Security benefits is an important decision that requires careful consideration, but it is also important to know how to apply. It is very easy to find advice about when you should apply for Social Security benefits. Informati… Read More

Tags: aging issues, apply, Elder Law, , timing

The End for 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in Schools?

March 30th, 2016

A controversial decision by author Harper Lee's estate has many people wondering if 'To Kill a Mockingbird' will continue to be assigned reading in school. Reading Harper Lee's anti-segregation novel To Kill a Mockingbird has beco… Read More

Tags: Beneficiaries, books, current affairs, Estate, Heirs, paperback, reading, schools, to kill a mockingbird