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Have you been tempted by ads proclaiming the ease and low expense of DIY estate planning? There seem to be more and more websites popping up where you can purchase estate planning documents to fill out yourself. Maybe this has appealed to you because estate planning has been on your to-do list forever and you have not yet gotten around to it. Perhaps you are thinking that you may use these DIY forms as a placeholder until you get around to meeting with an estate planning attorney.

So, you have taken the important step of putting an estate plan in place. Congratulations! You have put solid protections in place for your future and that of your family. Now, the question becomes, where should you store these important documents? A seemingly easy question, where you store your estate planning documents can be very important, especially considering the sensitive nature of such documents.

Have you considered trying to disinherit your spouse in your estate plan? While some may not understand why a person would want to do this, it is actually quite common and there can be many reasons behind it. Many, however, will be thwarted in such an attempt to disinherit a spouse because of New York’s Right of Election, also referred to as its elective share law. Here, we will go into more detail about the elective share and its potential implications for your estate plan.

Oftentimes, people most strongly associated estate plans with the creation of a will. While a will often plays a central role in an estate plan, there are a variety of other legal tools that can play prominent roles. Trusts, for instance, can be very useful in an estate plan. With a trust, you transfer ownership of assets into a trust in order to fund it. This becomes the corpus of the trust, also referred to as the “trust principal.

There are many seniors who find joy in giving financial gifts to children, grandchildren, and loved ones. While the generosity is something that both the giver and receiver of such gifts can greatly enjoy, there are other considerations that must be taken into account before an older individual bestows such generosity on someone else. Here, we will examine the danger and possibly unanticipated negative impact on long-term planning coverage options for those who make financial gifts.

Medicare is a federally administered health insurance program that is primarily for people 65 or older, as well as those below that age threshold that have disabilities, and those with end-stage renal disease. It can be difficult to understand and unravel the complexities of Medicare coverage, but finding the right Medicare coverage can be very important to ensure you are maximizing this resource. Here, we will discuss one aspect of Medicare and that is Medicare Advantage.

What Is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage is a rather unique Medicare plan as it is a type of Medicare health insurance that is offered by private companies, as opposed to the federal government, that have been approved by Medicare. Also referred to as Medicare Part C plans, it is offered as an alternative to Original Medicare.

If you have an older loved one in a nursing facility, it can be difficult to trust that others will look after them with the level of care, attention, and compassion that you want. Unfortunately, elder abuse and neglect are not as uncommon as we would all like to think. Here, we will discuss some warning signs to be on the look for that may mean your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse.

Has the time come when you can no longer provide your aging parent with the care he or she needs? Is it time to move them to a nursing home or other long-term care facility? These are difficult questions to confront. The fact that a parent is getting older and has increasing needs can also be tough to process and everyone may do so in a different way. These are just some of the reasons talking to siblings about what should be done with an elderly parent can easily lead to disagreements and heated arguments.

Have you considered everything that can and should be addressed by an estate plan? It is much more than having a Last Will and Testament and providing for the proper distribution of your assets upon your death, although this is an important part of it. A strong estate plan is more comprehensive. It includes putting careful plans in place that help secure a future you want for yourself and your loved ones.

Are you about to buy or sell a home or other property? If so, you may want to start looking for a real estate attorney to assist you with the transaction. This, however, can feel like an overwhelming task in and of itself when you already have a lot to think about in regards to the real estate transaction alone. Here, we have some tips for you to assist you in the process of finding and selecting a real estate attorney near you.

Buying a house is a big undertaking. Not only is it a substantial financial investment, but it is hopefully the place you will make a home for years to come. Because of this, you will likely want to do what you can to help ensure your best interests are protected throughout the process. This is one reason why it can be a good idea to have a