Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
Michiganders 65 and older represent one of the state’s fastest growing age groups. Free fitness memberships for residents 60 and over to its 12 recreation centers is just one way Detroit is working to improve the quality of life for older adults.
When the Supreme Court made its landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, same-sex couples across the country gained the right to marry. But with recent shifts in the legal landscape, such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, some are wondering if Obergefell could be next. While there is no such case on the docket as of now, it’s always a good idea to be prepared—especially when it comes to your legal rights and finances.
Dear Jonathan: Based on my research, I feel like I’m pretty well versed in what I am supposed to do when it comes to creating an estate plan for myself. Everything I have read says that I should have a will, powers of attorney and a trust. What I would like to know, however, is what happens when I die if I don’t do any estate planning?
Dear Jonathan: Can you please explain what the difference is between a financial durable power of attorney and a health care durable power of attorney.
Now is a busy time for businesses as they wrap things up before year-end. But the holiday season can be stressful for a different reason when the owner or some of the employees are responsible for the care of aging family members on top of working full-time.
Dear Jonathan: I just completed the probate of my late brother’s will. I was the personal representative he appointed to act on behalf of his estate. This was not a pleasant experience and in fact, was quite the opposite and made me realize that I don’t want to put my family through anything like this at my death. My wife and I don’t have a large estate, but we want to make sure that everything we own goes to the survivor of the two us and then to our kids without first having to go through probate. What do you recommend we do to avoid probate at either of our deaths?
Dear Jonathan: My mother, who recently passed away, prepared a trust naming me as her sole beneficiary. She intentionally disinherited my brother due to a falling out they had years ago. Although he knows that he has been disinherited, I am uncomfortable getting my mom’s entire estate and would like to provide for him somehow.
In the digital age, identity theft has taken on new and sinister forms, extending beyond the living to the deceased. When a loved one passes away, their identity doesn’t simply vanish; it lingers in both the digital realm and on paper, presenting opportunities for fraudulent activity.
Dear Jonathan: My father, a widower, passed away a couple of months ago. Being his only child, he appointed me as his agent on his durable power of attorney so that I can handle his bill paying which I have been doing for the past two years.
People preying on the elderly to get at their life savings, unfortunately, has become a common occurrence in today’s society. We have all heard stories about an elderly person being targeted and falling victim to an unscrupulous con artist. It is a sobering reality that everyone and their families need to prepare for as they age. When it is a family member who is suspected as the one taking advantage of their parent it puts this problem in a whole different light. What should you do if you suspect a family member of financial elder abuse?
