Studies consistently show that a significant percentage of people do not have last wills or any other estate planning documents. In fact, a 2019 survey that was conducted by Caring.com found that 57% of the adults that responded were unprepared. As you might expect, younger people are less likely to have wills than their older counterparts. This being stated, a surprising 34% of people 65 years of age and older stated that they did not have plans in place. The figure was a shocking 61% for … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Inaction Is All Too Common
General
Why Do I Really Need a Will?
There are people that think that they do not need a will because the state will step in and take care of everything appropriately. In fact, there are some very good reasons why everyone should have a will or some other estate planning document, and we will give you a quick rundown in this blog post. The Condition of Intestacy If you pass away without a will, the condition of intestacy would exist. Under these circumstances, the Surrogate’s Court would supervise the estate administration … [Read more...] about Why Do I Really Need a Will?
Estate Planning Considerations for a Second Marriage
Burlington elder law attorneys provide assistance in making an estate plan that is appropriate for whatever your situation.Your personal family situation can have a profound impact on the type of planning that you need to do, so you should make certain that you get personalized help with using tools like wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to protect your assets and to protect your family. One of the most common situations which can create estate planning complications is a re-marriage. If … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Considerations for a Second Marriage
How Many People Rely on Medicaid?
Burlington Medicaid attorneys can help you to take steps now to ensure that you will be able to qualify for Medicaid coverage if you need it in the future. Medicaid is an important social safety net program, but far too many people misunderstand what Medicaid does or who it can help. While you may believe that Medicaid only provides healthcare for people who are poor, and thus think you will never need Medicaid, this is not necessarily the case. A substantial portion of the population will … [Read more...] about How Many People Rely on Medicaid?
What if Your Power of Attorney Isn’t Durable?
It is very important that you create a durable power of attorney in order to protect your wealth and to determine who makes decisions on your behalf when you cannot speak up to express your own preferences. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to create a durable power of attorney or do not follow the process correctly. This can be a big problem as it can leave you unprotected even when you thought that you already had an incapacity plan in place. Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC can help you … [Read more...] about What if Your Power of Attorney Isn’t Durable?
Vermont Inheritance Laws for Minor Children
If you are going to leave money or property to someone who may be under the age of 18 at the time of inheriting, you must understand how Vermont inheritance laws address gifts made to minor children. If you do not understand the default law and take appropriate action, your gift to a person who is underage could create many legal complications. Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC can explain Vermont inheritance laws to you and can help you to ensure that you make smart choices when leaving money or … [Read more...] about Vermont Inheritance Laws for Minor Children
What are Some of the Top Asset Protection Strategies?
Identifying appropriate asset protection strategies is something which everyone should consider doing as they begin to build wealth and as their risk of loss increases with age and life events. A lot of people think that asset protection is something primarily done by the very wealthy, but this is not the case. A lot of middle class and average people who have worked hard to grow a business, work a farm, or build a nest egg could benefit from asset protection. If you are interested in asset … [Read more...] about What are Some of the Top Asset Protection Strategies?
What’s Behind Soaring Medicare Prescription Costs?
Most of us can agree that prescription drug price battles show no sign of letting up. Many of us also know that this is resulting in massive drains to the Medicare program. While the advances of modern medicine and technology are improving the lives of the elderly every day, these same advances are also costing. For example, new drugs to fight heart disease are projected to cost up to $12,000 a year. Further, just ten new drugs could result in more than a $30 billion price tag for … [Read more...] about What’s Behind Soaring Medicare Prescription Costs?
Should Seniors Be Concerned About Cloud Security?
Sometimes, we can be resistant to new technology. It’s human nature: that with which we feel uncomfortable, we tend to steer clear of. But with technology permeating every business sector, including healthcare, many are wondering if their wearable devices, such as emergency notification systems, is safe. If you’re concerned, you’re not alone. Collecting health and fitness data through wearable devices is raising concerns among consumers – both seniors and their loved ones. A recent survey … [Read more...] about Should Seniors Be Concerned About Cloud Security?
5 Myths About Elderly Women in the U.S.
Just because older women are past their youth and are enjoying their retirement years doesn’t mean they are any less vibrant, loving, and brilliant than their younger counterparts. There are many myths floating around that simply aren’t true. Here are five myths that are frustrating today’s mature women: A Walk Through the Past Just because Grandma is sharing a story from her school days with her grandchildren doesn’t mean she’s exhibiting signs of dementia. In fact, think back to the … [Read more...] about 5 Myths About Elderly Women in the U.S.
