How far can you stretch your retirement plan? Estate planners often talk about "stretching" an individual retirement account (IRA) or defined...
Eldercare Lawyer Blog
Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?
TAXING SOCIAL SECURITY Many retirees are surprised to learn that Social Security benefits may be subject to federal income tax depending on overall...
Social Security 101: Retirement, Disability & Survivor Benefits
If you don't already, someday, you will probably receive Social Security benefits. Currently, over 90% of all retirees receive Social Security...
Simple Will Definition
I Wanted a Simple Will Most people think their Last Will and Testament is a "simple Will." After all, it's simple to them; they know how they want...
Simple Will
How Much for a Simple Will? "I need a simple Will," the woman's voice said from the other end of the telephone line. "How much do you charge for a...
A Proposal That Didn’t Stick—and What That Means
SENATE REFUSES TO KILL DEATH TAX Last week a bill introduced to the United States Senate that would have made the repeal of the federal estate tax...
A Roadmap for Success in Elder Law Planning
Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to protect your finances, your wishes, and your family as you age. A clear elder law roadmap helps...
Right to Die
Oregon is the only state in the Nation to permit physician-assisted suicide. Oregon's Death with Dignity Act was approved by the citizenry of that...
Providing For the Children of Divorce
"My wife and I are each married for the second time," the man says from the other side of my desk. "I have three children from my first marriage,...
Powers of Attorney Are More Powerful Than Most People Realize
ALL POWERS ARE NOT ALIKE All Powers of Attorney are not alike. Some Powers are durable, others aren't. Some Powers name one "Agent" - the person...
Planning Is a Process
ESTATE PLANNING IS A PROCESS Estate planning is a process, a plan. It is not going to a lawyer and having a Will drafted. There are certain aspects...
Estate Planning for the Solo Senior
PLANNING FOR THE SOLO SENIOR I ask the woman on the other side of my desk who she would want to name as her agent in her financial power of...
Planning for a Child With Disabilities Means Planning for the Long Term
PLANNING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES 40% of all individuals receiving long term care are under age 65. Many of these disabled individuals still...
Planning For Children
You're Never Too Young To Plan For younger individuals, the topic of estate planning is very low on their priority list. After all, if your young...
Per Stripes: Understanding Inheritance by Class
PER STIPRES, PER CAPITA, JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH I GET "My mother's Will left her estate to the children, `per stirpes,'" says the woman who has come...
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Recent Posts
Marriage Is a Partnership
Recently, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, issued an interesting decision concerning New Jersey’s Medicaid program. Medicaid is a health payment plan for needy individuals. In order to qualify for Medicaid, an individual must have a very limited...
Vindication After a Decade—Sort Of
In 2011, which surprisingly was ten years ago, I argued a case before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal appellate court. The Third Circuit is a very respectable court. It’s the court immediately below the Supreme Court of the United States, so I was...
Trusts Can Be a Good Idea
Using a trust in your estate plan can be a valuable tool, but many people are intimidated and confused when they hear the word “trust.” A trust conjures up images of your money being held with some large financial institution that manages the money and your...
Making the Tough Decision About a Loved One’s Care
Few moments are harder for families than realizing a loved one may no longer be able to live safely or manage things on their own. The conversations can be uncomfortable, and the decisions can feel overwhelming. But avoiding the issue usually makes things harder...
Activating Your Estate Plan
A core piece of advice that I give to almost all of my clients is to have their basic estate planning documents—a last will and testament, a financial power of attorney, and an advanced health care directive—in place. After clients sign these documents, they often...
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Sea Girt (732) 974-8898 Middletown (732) 706-8008