Recent Blog Posts
Can Anyone Create Advance Directives?
Advance directives, sometimes known simply as “life’s events documents,” are an essential part of estate planning for all adults, regardless of a person’s age or financial circumstances. As you may know, whether you are thinking about estate planning for yourself or for your elderly parents, you may be wondering if there are certain requirements… Read More »
Important Legal Documents for People with Dementia
Many older adults in Connecticut will be diagnosed with a form of dementia. When that happens, it is essential to ensure that all estate planning documents are in place given that a diagnosis with dementia likely will mean that the elderly patient will lose legal capacity at a point in the future. It is… Read More »
How to Help Your Elderly Parents with Asset Protection
Many Connecticut residents have elderly parents who could need long-term care sooner rather than later. Although it can be difficult for older adults to discuss financial issues and the prospect of long-term care with their adult children, this is nonetheless an extremely important topic to address. Even if your elderly parents are reluctant to… Read More »
Trusts: Key Terms to Understand
All adults should be thinking about estate planning. While common myths suggest that estate planning is only for older adults or adults with chronic and serious illnesses, estate planning is crucial for many reasons. Trusts are one type of tool in the estate planning process. Although establishing a trust might not be appropriate for… Read More »
What is a QTIP Trust?
If you are married and have not yet worked with an estate planning lawyer to write a will, to create advance directives, and to consider the value of a trust, you might want to consider a qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust. This is one of many types of trusts that a person can… Read More »
How Does a Living Will Work?
For anyone considering estate planning for themselves, or hoping to help an elderly parent with elements of estate planning, advance directives are essential to consider. Advance directives are different types of documents that ultimately allow a person to have a say in their own medical decisions or health care proceedings even if they become… Read More »
New Laws in Connecticut Aimed at Elder Care
Earlier this summer, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed new bills into law that are aimed at improving elder care in the state, including certain additions to Medicaid coverage for older adults in the state. As you are beginning to think about your own long-term care plans, or if you are helping your elderly parents… Read More »
How to Discuss Estate Planning with Your Elderly Parents
Many adults in their 40s and 50s have elderly parents who are beginning to need significant medical care and help with their finances, yet it remains common for elderly adults to have avoided estate planning earlier in life. As such, many of those adults in their 40s and 50s are thinking about how to… Read More »
What is a Special Needs Trust?
If you have a disabled child or another loved one who is disabled, part of your estate planning process should be thinking about establishing a special needs trust (also known more simply as an SNT). While there are many different types of trusts that can be created in Connecticut and can provide benefits to… Read More »
What Are Countable Assets for Medicaid Planning?
As we get into our 40s and 50s, many of us have aging parents who need to learn more about Medicaid planning and long-term care options. Not only is it important for adult children to understand how the law works so that they can help their parents and other elderly relatives, but many adult… Read More »