Q. We recently engaged you to assist my elderly mother to update and revise her estate planning documents, all while she was a patient in a skilled nursing facility under “lockdown” due to the COVID Pandemic. I appreciate that you were successful, but wonder how you were able to deal with the COVID issues that… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Current Events
Medicare Relaxes Requirements for Nursing Home Coverage
Q. I hear that Medicare has announced that, due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, it will now be more generous in covering nursing home stays by relaxing some of its long-standing coverage requirements. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes. A bit of background may be helpful. Medicare has traditionally imposed three conditions as… Read More »
Hang Up On Phony Calls from SSA
Q. I hear there is a new scam going around whereby seniors receive phone calls that appear to be from Social Security. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes. There is a spoofing scam going around the entire country whereby seniors receive calls which appear to be coming from the Social Security Administration, but… Read More »
The New “Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017” Makes It Important to Review Older Trusts
Q. My wife and I set up a Living Trust back in 2001, but we have never updated it. In view of the recent change in the tax law, is that something that we should consider? A. Yes, by all means! At the time you created your trust, the estate tax exemption was only $675,000… Read More »
What’s in the New Tax Law?
Q. I hear a lot about the new tax law that Congress passed and President Trump just signed, but I am unclear as to how it might affect me and my family. Can you give us a summary? A. Sure. While much of the new “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was designed to reduce the… Read More »
New Law: Medi-Cal To Dramatically Scale Back Estate Recovery
Q. My husband receives a Medi-Cal subsidy to help with his nursing home expense, and I have long worried about protecting our home from a later Medi-Cal “payback” claim. I heard there might be some changes coming. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes, indeed, there are big changes coming! Gov. Jerry Brown just signed… Read More »
New End of Life Law Became Effective in California; Recently Challenged; Reinstated Pending Further Legal Proceedings
[Alert to Readers: Make sure to read the “ALERT” at the bottom of this post for recent developments]. ******************************* Q. I hear a new Right-to-Die law goes into effect very soon. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes. Starting June 9, 2016, California becomes the fourth state in the union to allow a terminally… Read More »
Does California Recognize the ‘Right to Die’ ? New Law Says “Yes”!
News Flash: On October 5, 2015, Governor Brown signed the End of Life Option Act. It authorizes “an adult who meets certain qualifications, and who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, as defined, to make a request for a drug prescribed …. for the purpose of… Read More »
Happy 800th Birthday, Magna Carta!
Q. I have been hearing snippets of news lately about the Magna Carta. What is it and why is it important? A. The Magna Carta of 1215 is considered by some to be the most important legal document created in Western Civilization during the last millennium. Historically, it was a peace treaty between King John… Read More »
Alert: Reverse Mortgage Rules About to Tighten
Q. I hear that qualifying for a reverse mortgage will soon become more difficult. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes, beginning March 2, 2015, all persons applying for a reverse mortgage under the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program will need to pass a Financial Assessment. This is new! No longer will reverse… Read More »