Boomers are more willing to plan their own funerals, than to prepare for an extended stay in a nursing home. Both are inevitable events for most of us. With more than 10,000 people celebrating their 65th birthday every day in America, and the startling statistic that 70% of us will…
There’s an easy way for select assets to be passed to heirs, with no need for probate. It’s called the beneficiary designation. Your will is a document that is used to pass property and assets to your heirs, but it’s not the only way. Certain accounts or assets have beneficiary…
This is a cautionary tale about what can happen, when the wrong person is given power of attorney. The problem here is that a man changed his power of attorney without any review or oversight from any family members, including his own wife. Why Dorothy Jorgenson’s husband changed his power…
A hearing of the Senate Special Committee on aging is looking at bipartisan legislation that would make changes to the Older Americans Act to give individuals younger than 60 with a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s a chance to access support programs. Senate Bill 901, which is called “Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease…
One of the challenges of asset distribution comes when your children’s lives have taken different turns. Do you leave your successful daughter the same amount of money that you would leave to a son, who can’t seem to find a direction? It’s not always easy, but decisions do need to…
It is important to understand the basics of special needs planning, so that you can plan for your child’s future. There are many issues to address, but an experienced Houston estate planning professional will be able to help. Special needs planning is challenging. It’s important to have a strong team…
It’s hard because you want to be sure your chosen person understands your wishes, your financial situation and can make good decisions on your behalf. Not everyone can do that. There is considerable responsibility that comes with being named an executor of an estate, explains MoneySense in the article “Should…
The idea that spouses and their stepchildren will share the legal power to make health care decision sounds good in theory, but, in practice, there may be some unexpected side effects. Simple things get complicated in blended families. The idea that stepchildren and a spouse will work together to make…
The foundation of your estate plan is a will, also known as a last will and testament. Depending upon your situation, your Houston area estate planning attorney may recommend additional documents, including trusts. The first part of your estate plan is the creation of a will to provide clear instructions…
No one plans to be elderly and alone, but if you are single and either have no immediate family members or are not close with your family, you need a game plan, if you need long term care of any kind. If you are married, or are close with your…