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By law, every testamentary named in a will must have a public record, usually posted in a local newspaper, of the date of the testamentary’s death. In part, this information serves as notice to creditors if the decedent has an outstanding debt with them. The personal representative must also make a reasonable effort to notify…

Several years ago, there was a story about a Maltese named Trouble whose human, hotel heiress Leona Helmsley, generously left $12 million to care for the pup. The Value of an Animal Trust for Your Pet For those who care about the well-being of their animals or livestock, animal trusts can play an essential role…

Every year in March, Brain Injury Awareness Month begins. Brain injury often referred to as traumatic brain injury (TBI), can range from mild (commonly called a concussion) to severe and is caused by an impact to the head or the body or by a penetrating head injury. But there are also non-traumatic brain injuries that…

We often hear it from family and friends who are getting older, or maybe we say it ourselves – “I had a terrible sleep last night.” Or perhaps “I kept waking up with my mind racing and couldn’t fall back to sleep.” Sleep patterns tend to change, and that is perfectly normal as we grow…

Business closures related to COVID-19 have caused record unemployment rates for business owners and their workers, many of whom are over 50 years old. Though workers of all ages have felt the effects of unemployment or reduced working hours, older workers will fare worse upon re-entering the workforce. Research shows the recession of 2008 found…

Generally speaking, guardianship conjures up images of a minor child being cared for by an adult family member or friend. However, you can employ the process to obtain legal rights over elderly or aging adults, usually parents, who are losing their physical and mental health capacities. While the process is similar, there are some distinct…

As we begin a new year, we assess our lives and make health care plans. Americans continue responding to the ever-present threat of COVID-19 in its many iterations, and we are identifying that which is most important in our lives to preserve our health and financial future best. For many, the mere mention of long-term…

Americans are living longer, and most of them want to age in their own homes and communities. As a result, many homeowners are taking steps to modify their homes so they will be able to safely and comfortably remain in their homes for as long as possible. This is called “aging in place.” With the…

Polypharmacy, or the concurrent use of multiple prescription medications, is very common in older Americans. The more medications a person takes, the higher the risk of dangerous drug-drug interactions and increased possibility of inappropriate prescribing, adverse drug reactions, hospitalization, and even death. Patients who have Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other forms of dementia often take…

Third-party special needs trusts sometimes referred to as supplemental needs trusts are ways for parents of children with mental and physical disabilities to plan for the future. This type of trust will receive assets from you or another benefactor expressly for that person with a disability. Goals include: Often parents will leave additional assets to…