Estate Planning

In the last blog, we discussed the issue of financial institutions refusing to honor powers of attorney and making clients sign their own institutions’ legal forms. In order to prevent this from [...]

In a recent New York Times article titled “Finding Out Your Power of Attorney Is Powerless,” the author discusses an issue that frustrates families and elder law attorneys alike —financial [...]

For individuals who believe they have a right to die on their own terms, there are certain ways to set up end-of-life documents to reflect your wishes and values. Despite being a resident in [...]

With the technological and medical advancements of the 21st century, life-sustaining treatment in end-of-life care has become more widespread and affordable. However, many individuals are against [...]

While the debate about proposed death with dignity laws continues in Florida, it is important to know that current Florida law prohibits assisted suicide, which is allowed in several other [...]

A movement that is spreading throughout this country is the death with dignity initiative, or laws that allow terminally ill patients to use prescribed medications to end their lives on their own [...]

Advance directives are documents that allow individuals to express their preferences and instructions regarding their healthcare and finances. Some advance directives include living wills, [...]

While joint bank accounts can be a convenient and appropriate way for some individuals to title their bank accounts, joint ownership is not the best option for others. There are alternatives to [...]

In 2013, changes were made to estate taxes and now few people are subject to federal estate taxes. For those who die in 2016, the first $5.45 million of an individual’s estate is exempt from [...]

An estate planning tool that couples have utilized for years is the bypass trust. The trust is a long-term planning device that allows a spouse to leave property that will not be subject to [...]