AL Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

Are you aware that November is National Family Caregivers Month?  Are you caring for a family member or do you know someone who is? Family caregivers are unsung heroes as they work tirelessly to help elderly or disabled family members. Would you and your family like to show your appreciation to your family caregiver?  Let us share three tips with you.

Do you know the name of the type of dementia that can cause problems with memory, thinking, cognition, and behavior?  It is Alzheimer’s Disease. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, with end-stages of the disease becoming life-threatening. 
Since there is still no cure, early detection is critical. Early detection can offer the best chance for effective treatment and improved quality of life. The most widely recognized early warning sign is memory loss and knowing what to do about it could make all the difference in your treatment options.

Have you completed your Alabama estate planning for your loved one with special needs? We know this is a difficult topic to discuss as well as how hard it may be to contemplate a time when you are no longer here to provide for and protect your loved one. With as  many challenges as you and your loved one may face, however, you cannot wait to complete your Alabama estate planning. 

It is important to plan ahead for the long-term future of your loved one with special needs. Whether it is during this month of October, when there is national awareness on Special Needs Planning, or any time throughout the year, creating the estate plan you need is of critical importance.

Estate planning is critical for anyone who wants to help ensure their wishes are respected in the event of temporary incapacitation or upon their death. Despite the important role estate planning plays in our lives, did you know less than 50% of Americans have an estate plan in place? This is a terrifying statistic when we know just how important making a plan is for your future, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

None of us know what tomorrow might bring and having an estate plan that you develop with your estate planning attorney can provide security. Do you already have a plan in place? Don’t forget you may need to update it. In fact, when you regularly update what you have put in place with your attorney you can help ensure that security will continue.

A prenuptial agreement is an agreement entered into between future spouses regarding ownership and distribution of their present and future assets. Have you thought of a prenuptial agreement as a plan for divorcing even before the marriage takes place? A prenuptial agreement, however, can be a very important legal tool for couples in certain situations, including in the context of estate planning.  

A prenuptial agreement does not just set forth how assets will be distributed upon divorce, it may also address the distribution of assets upon a spouse’s death.
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Did you know that the average stay in an Alabama nursing home currently runs at $200 per day, $6000 per month and $72,000 per year? This cost can be crippling, and very few Alabama residents have long-term care insurance to cover the cost of a nursing home. Alabama seniors should plan for

Dementia symptoms can vary day to day, which means it may not be easy to pinpoint when it is time for an aging parent to enter memory care. Did you know that worrying behavior, safety concerns, and caregiver burnout can be top signs that it is time for a memory care facility? Let us take a look at ten questions that can help you evaluate your family’s situation. 

Does your out of state move involve a to-do list a mile long? It often does. If you are moving out of state, does your checklist include updating your estate plan? It should. Let us discuss the key reasons why you need to update your estate plan when you move to a new state.

Have you felt overwhelmed while trying to choose a senior living environment for yourself or someone you love? There are many different options, with a wide range of residence types, fee structures, and services provided. Two common categories of senior living environments are Assisted Living Facilities and Skilled Nursing Homes. Let us review six significant differences between them.

Have you heard of the saying that the only thing certain in life is death and taxes? Did you know that not planning for death, or inheritance taxes, may leave your estate open to significant taxes, as high as forty percent of your estate? Let us review some estate planning tips to consider when you near the proposed tax limits.

Starting with a bit of good news, Alabama does not have an estate or death tax. This means that upon your passing, your estate will be subject to zero state estate tax.

The Administration for Community Living encourages communities to celebrate National Older Americans Month every May. Did you know that, for 2021, the theme is “communities of strength” in recognition of all that older people have lived through in their lives and learned during that time? Particularly during the pandemic that overtook the past year, people often draw inward and may not stop to think about what their elder neighbors can teach them. It can be, however, more important than ever to make connections with older residents in our communities, both for them and for us. Let us take a look at four resources to help