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Question:     My spouse has died.  How do I apply for the higher Social Security income? Answer:    When your spouse dies you are entitled to receive his or her social security retirement income [...]

Question:    I am interested in doing Medicaid planning for potential future long term care costs, but I don’t know for sure that I’ll even need skilled nursing care or long term care.  Should I [...]

Question:     Are the federal income tax incentives for donating conservation easements going to change in 2014? Answer:    The “enhanced conservation easement incentive,” which applied to [...]

Question:     I want to reduce my taxes for 2013 by making some gifts to charity before December 31.  Where can I find information on the rules for charitable giving? Answer:    IRS Publication [...]

Question:     I was the guardian for a ward who has recently died.  Can I petition to open a probate proceeding and be appointed personal representative also? Answer:    Usually, the named [...]

Question:  Does a guardianship end when the ward dies?  If so, what are the guardian’s responsibilities upon the ward’s death? Answer:    Yes, a guardianship is terminated when the ward dies.  A [...]

Question:     Should I let the person I have designated as my personal representative know about my estate plan? Answer:    Your personal representative—referred to as an executor in some [...]

Question:  Our father is in a nursing home, but we would like to bring him home on Thanksgiving and Christmas day so we can all be at the table together.  Will that disqualify him for Medicare [...]

Question:     Where Can I Find More Information on Elder Care? Answer:    You can always search for topics related specifically to elder care law on the Bach & Jacobs website. Another source [...]

Question:  If I am the personal representative for an estate in Florida, am I required to have an attorney for the probate administration in the Florida circuit court? Answer:    Florida law [...]