‘Till Death Do Us Part, Too: Estate Planning Tips for Commitment Without Marriage
Advice columnist Ann Landers once observed that “love is friendship that has caught fire.” If that’s true, there are thousands of ways for that blaze to unfold. For many Americans, such devotion and passion do [...]
Things to Discuss with Your Estate Planning Attorney
Why an estate plan is more than just a will. A will is a good start, but there’s much more to estate planning that drafting and signing a will. A will won’t necessarily preserve your [...]
New Jersey Medicaid Support Programs
Medicaid is a government program that is funded by both the state and federal government that provides health care services to low-income individuals. This article is an overview of the benefits and eligibility requirements of [...]
Medicaid Long-Terms Care Waivers
For most elderly Americans, home health care is not a viable financial option. These services are not affordable for the average American, especially as the average human lifespan lengthens. For financial reasons, many senior citizens [...]
Why Your Estate Planning Project Must Morph into a Process
Many people put their estate plan on their to-do list as a one-time project: “Create estate plan” or “Meeting with lawyer 10:30 a.m. Thursday for estate plan.” Thinking of your estate plan as a single [...]
How to Pass Your Home to Your Children Tax-Free
Giving your house to your children can have tax consequences, but there are ways to accomplish it tax-free. The best method to use will depend on your individual circumstances and needs. Leave the house in [...]
Part B Premium Will Rise Slightly for Most Medicare Beneficiaries in 2017
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has announced the Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurances for 2017. After holding steady at $104.90 a month for four years, the standard Medicare Part B premium that most recipients [...]
When Can You Delay Taking Medicare?
While you are eligible to apply for Medicare when you are 65, there are circumstances where you might not want to, particularly if you are working full time for a larger employer or contributing to [...]
IRS Issues Long-Term Care Premium Deductibility Limits for 2017
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is increasing the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2017 income as a result of buying long-term care insurance. Premiums for "qualified" long-term care insurance policies (see explanation below) are [...]
3 Famous Pet Trust Cases and the Lessons We Can Learn from Them
Things don’t always go according to plan. On the other hand, sometimes pet owners can get a bit creative when providing for their pets. Let’s take a look now at 3 famous cases involving pet [...]
Turning 65? What You Need to Know about Signing up for Medicare
The first of the 78 million baby boomers turned 65 on January 1, 2011, and some 10,000 boomers a day will reportedly reach that milestone between now and 2030. If you are about to turn [...]
Why a Trust Is the Best Option for Avoiding Probate
As Ambrose Bierce once darkly observed, “Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” Obviously, ideally, when someone passes away, the paperwork and material concerns associated with the estate are so [...]
The Pros and Cons of Probate
In estate planning circles, the word “probate” often comes with a starkly negative connotation. Indeed, for many people — especially those with larger estates — financial planners recommend trying to keep property out of probate [...]