For decades, states have granted courts the power to appoint guardians or conservators for elderly or disabled people unable to tend to their basic needs. Most appointed guardians are family members, but judges can turn to a growing industry of professional, unrelated guardians. Often the guardians are granted broad authority over a ward’s finances, medical […]
Read More »It’s That Time of Year!
This is the time of year when certain money issues come more into focus, including those related to income-tax planning, charity scams and checking up on the financial health of family members. Tax planning isn’t shaping up as anything remarkable over the waning weeks of 2015. Congress hasn’t passed any blockbuster legislation affecting individuals this […]
Read More »California Court Upholds Trust that Gives Millions to Lady’s Gardener
A Sonoma County bank overseeing the trust of a wealthy Kentfield divorcee who left a large chunk of her $8.5 million estate to her gardener and other non-family members will be allowed to dip into the fund to defend challenges from the woman’s daughter. That’s the published opinion of the state Court of Appeals in a […]
Read More »The High Cost of Dementia
Three diseases, leading killers of Americans, often involve long periods of decline before death. Two of them — heart disease and cancer — usually require expensive drugs, surgeries and hospitalizations. The third, dementia, has no effective treatments to slow its course.
Read More »Special Needs Attorney Testifies Before Congress
Richard A. Courtney, President of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) and principal in the Courtney Elder Law Associates section of Frascogna Courtney, PLLC, testified Friday, September 18 before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health in favor of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (H.R. 670).
Read More »“Estate Planner” Scams Customers with Turkish Bond Investment
A Naperville businessman was sentenced recently to seven years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $3.3 million in restitution for conning clients into investing in nonexistent Turkish bonds as part of an elaborate, $28 million Ponzi scheme, authorities said. John T. Burns III was an owner and operator of USA Retirement Management […]
Read More »The Best Medicine is an Estate Planning Attorney!
Laura, a single mother with breast cancer, no income, and no medical insurance, was over $300,000 in medical debt. While her doctors addressed her cancer, they could do little to help her deal with the devastating financial consequences of her illness. Fortunately, Laura’s doctor referred her to a nonprofit that provides free legal services to […]
Read More »Law Students Help Vets with Estate Counseling
The University of Nebraska’s College of Law is sending its students to help military veterans with matters related to estate planning, giving law students practical experience while helping a population in need. Over recent weeks, fourteen veterans have received free counseling on drafting wills and naming powers of attorney through the Veterans Advanced Directive Clinic.
Read More »How Hard Is Your Money Working?
Your money should always work for you, but when you’re retired, it needs to work even harder. Help safeguard your retirement by placing demands on your hard-earned cash.
Read More »Financial Help for Caregivers
Becoming a caregiver can result in many challenges; communicating with doctors, managing your time and your parents’ health, and just as importantly, their financial welfare. According to the National Caregiver’s Library website, (www.caregiverslibrary.org,) “caregiving involves more than just medical problems. Helping your loved one manage his or her finances can ensure that he or she […]
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