» Elder Law

A Million Dollars in Art, but No Money for a Burial?

Despite Mr. Simpson’s collection of museum-quality art, some of it housed in the Manhattan gallery he owned, which is now under lock and key, his family said it lacked the money for a burial. A million dollars worth of art is quite a collection!… Read More
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The Hoopla over HIPAA

In hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and insurance companies, professionals may cite Hipaa as a reason to restrict information. Some patients even have trouble accessing their own health records, supposedly because of the priva… Read More
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Don’t Overlook Tax Returns for Your Gifts

You must report 2012 gifts on Form 709 even if you don’t owe tax. Among other things, that’s so the IRS will know how much of the $5.12 million ($5.25 million for 2013) tax-free amount you have used so far. April 15 is approaching fast, and the t… Read More
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Four Generation Family Business Endangered by Family Dispute

The silent party to all the fighting is, of course, Luray Caverns. It is not just a U.S. Natural Landmark. It is also a business, and businesses can suffer when their owners are at war with each other. Family businesses have a tough time passing from… Read More
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Can Mediation be the Referee in Your Estate Battle?

…In general, the lasting anger and bitterness of litigation doesn't seem to occur when matters are settled by mediation. Inheritance battles are nothing new. We see several of them make their way into courtrooms far and wide, exposing the fami… Read More
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Alzheimer’s Association Reports Alzheimer’s and Dementia are on the Rise

Already, 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Those numbers will jump to 13.8 million by 2050 … The latest numbers are in from the Alzheimer’s Association, and reports show one in three seniors dies with Alzhei… Read More
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Mind the Details with Inherited IRAs

Let's say that someone who is not your spouse recently died and named you as their IRA beneficiary. You now have what the IRS calls an “inherited IRA.” When you inherit money, once you receive it you can usually decide where it goes from the… Read More
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A Power of Attorney Can Produce a Thief in Disguise

Statistics on power of attorney abuse are hard to come by, but experts recognize it as a prevalent problem. There will come a time at which you will need to legally delegate someone to handle your financial matters. This legal delegation, known as a… Read More
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Tips for Leaving Your Business

Most exit plans I’ve dealt with are some combination of these three basic techniques. And, the lines that differentiate them can be fuzzy. Owning and running a business is tough stuff, and at times you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders… Read More
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Decanting a Bottle of Wine …or an Irrevocable Trust?

"It's like decanting a bottle of wine; you pour the wine into a new bottle to air it out," says Mark Haranzo, a partner at law firm Withers Bergman. In trust terms, you pour the assets of an old trust into a brand-new trust that essent… Read More
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