The natural order of things usually means that children outlive their parents -- and that's a big concern when you're the parent of a disabled child who will never be able to function completely independently. How do you pick a guardian or conservator for your child...
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Would you know how to spot financial abuse of the elderly?
When scammers cast their nets for victims, they often target the elderly, whom they perceive as easy prey. But many senior citizens are defrauded out of their life's savings not by snake oil salesmen but by their own loved ones and relatives. Spotting financial abuse...
Why you shouldn’t put off creating your estate plan
Thinking of what will happen at the end of your life and after can be difficult and emotional. Whether due to a desire to avoid addressing such complex topics, a misunderstanding on who estate planning can benefit or sheer procrastination, many put off planning their...
Your adult child’s trust and Supplemental Security Income
If your adult child receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to a disability, you're likely aware of exactly how important those benefits are -- particularly the associated health benefits. You don't want to do anything to endanger those, now or in the future....
How to make sure your advance directives are honored
Everyone hopes for a dignified death -- but what that means from one person to the next is different. That's why advance directives were created. Given the vast capacity to prolong life through medical intervention in today's world, it's necessary for people to say...
Ask your doctor for a mental functioning test
Sure, just about everyone who is over the age of 50 makes jokes about having "senior moments" when they forget something -- but are those moments of forgetfulness actually the sign of something serious? Your relatives may think so, even if you don't. Many well-meaning...
What do you need to keep in your ‘end-of-life’ drawer?
You know, sooner or later, your day will come, and your heirs will be left trying to make sure that your final wishes are followed. As a result, you've had a will made and taken other preparations to make things easier. Now, what do you do with everything? What all...
How do I revoke a power of attorney?
There are times when you need to revoke the power of attorney you granted someone in the past. A few weeks ago, we talked about some of the reasons people have for revoking a power of attorney (POA). Now, let's talk about the right way to revoke a POA -- because this...
What does your health care proxy need to know?
You took a smart step and gave a trusted relative or friend your health care power of attorney -- which is excellent. But, did you sit down and discuss exactly what your wishes are? All too often, people assume that their health care proxies know what they want -- and...
Could adult adoption make your estate plans easier?
In modern-day America, blended families are common. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that more than half of American families are the result of remarriages. There are a whopping 1,300 stepfamilies created each day in this country. Unfortunately, the emotional...