General

Unless you are exposed to estate planning concepts and strategies on a regular basis they can be intimidating and frightening. Frequently this causes people to shy away from creating an estate plan despite understanding how important it is to have one in place. To help you create a successful estate plan, the Essex Junction estate planning attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC offer 10 estate planning tips. Ignore myths and misconceptions. One of the most important tips is simple – do not … [Read more...] about 10 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Plan Succeed

A trust agreement is among the most common additions to a comprehensive estate plan. When a trust is created, the person creating the trust must appoint a Trustee. The overall job of a Trustee is to administer the trust. If you recently learned that you were appointed as the Trustee of a trust, the prospect of serving in that position can be a bit daunting. To get you started, the Essex Junction trust administration attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC discuss what is involved in trust … [Read more...] about What Is Involved in Trust Administration in Vermont?

When you think about creating an initial estate plan, you likely focus entirely on the need to create a roadmap for the distribution of your estate assets in the event of your death. While that certainly will always remain an important estate planning goal. You will undoubtedly include additional goals into your estate plan over time. The best way to decide which estate planning goals should be included in your plan is to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney. In the meantime, … [Read more...] about 5 Essential Estate Plan Components

The older adult population in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years and is expected to continue to increase in the years to come. Sadly, that increase has led to a corresponding increase in elder abuse. Elder abuse occurs in several forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse. If you are the caretaker of an older person, it is imperative that you take steps to prevent elder financial abuse. Toward that end, the Essex Junction elder law attorneys … [Read more...] about Protecting Elderly Loved Ones from Financial Abuse

You likely have a loved one that is elderly and that may be particularly vulnerable to elder abuse and neglect. If so, there are things you can do to protect your loved one from becoming a victim of elder abuse. Learning everything you can about elder abuse and neglect with particular emphasis on learning to recognize the signs of elder abuse and neglect is a good place to start. To help you do that, the Essex Junction elder law attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC help you spot the signs that … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse

During your retirement years, there may come a time when you need help paying for health care expenses that are not covered by Medicare. Fortunately, Medicaid may be able to help. You need to know how to determine if you qualify and how to apply though. Toward that end, the Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explain how to apply for senior Medicaid in Vermont. Will You Need to Qualify for Medicaid? Seniors often turn to Medicaid to help cover the high … [Read more...] about How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont

One of the most popular, and important, components of a comprehensive estate plan is Medicaid planning. You may have made it through several decades without ever needing to qualify for Medicaid; however, that could change rapidly once you reach your retirement years if you need long-term care. You may have also heard several disconcerting things about Medicaid eligibility, most of which likely revolve around the loss of assets because of the need to qualify for Medicaid. If you have a 401(k) … [Read more...] about Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?

As much as we prefer not to think about it, the reality is that the longer we live, the greater the odds are that we will need some type of care. The idea of ending up in a nursing home facility probably does not sit well with you. The good news is that there are numerous options for senior care that might help you avoid, or at least put-off, the need for nursing home care. Toward that end, the Essex Junction elder law attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explain various senior care options that … [Read more...] about Senior Care Options

A common misperception about estate planning is the belief that it does not become necessary until you marry and/or become a parent. This simply is not true. To make sure you understand when and why you need to start estate planning, an Essex Junction estate planning attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explains why you need an estate plan even if you are single without children. Estate Planning Is about More than Just Planning for Your Death The mistaken belief that estate planning is all … [Read more...] about Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Single Without Children?

One of the most difficult decisions you may ever be faced with is choosing a nursing home for your parent. Recognizing that nursing home care is necessary to keep your parent safe and healthy does not make the task much easier. Once the decision has been made, however, the next step is to choose the best facility. The process of choosing a nursing home can be emotionally and physically exhausting given that your parent’s health and happiness are at stake. To get you started, the Essex Junction … [Read more...] about How to Pick the Right Nursing Home