Elder Law

Be sure to celebrate  National Senior Citizens Day,   on August 21st! This is a great opportunity for everyone in our great nation to honor and appreciate the seniors in their lives. The seniors you know in your life may be your parents, grandparents, friends or neighbors and this day will allow you to show them how much you care about them.
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Have you thought about the necessity of a good and solid elder law plan as you grow older?  As most of us know, life can be unpredictable and there are often unforeseen challenges that require quick and decisive action. Because we live in Alabama, we are no strangers to sudden threats like hurricanes and, as much as we prepare for these natural disasters, too many of us overlook or put off the need to prepare for our own personal and health-related crises. 

Unfortunately, this oversight can lead to significant risks and hardships for both you and your loved ones, and by delaying the creation of an elder law plan you may leave yourself open to numerous problems. On the other hand, by having a comprehensive plan in place, which can anticipate a sudden health care crisis or a diagnosis such as dementia, you can find yourself prepared to obtain the care you want and manage the monthly financial impact of long-term care needs. Moreover, with these clear directives you can eliminate any family disputes and stress during already challenging times.
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In Alabama, planning for long-term care is a critical aspect of estate planning, especially as we age and our healthcare needs become more complex. While it may seem like a kind and generous gesture to make frequent gifts to loved ones, doing so can have significant and unintended consequences when it comes to qualifying for long-term care assistance. Understanding these dangers and planning accordingly can help protect your assets and ensure you receive the care you need. We would like to share with you important aspects of planning for long-term care below, especially when it comes to making frequent gifts.

May, recognized as both National Elder Law Month and Read more . . .

As we observe National Elder Law Month this May, it is imperative to address a rapidly growing concern among American families: the rising cost of long-term care. With the increasing demand for such services and the financial burden it can entail, strategic planning is more crucial than ever.
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Did you know that the majority of Americans, even those with large assets, fail to take the critical steps needed in order to plan for what comes next in the event of their incapacity or death? It is very important to create a legacy that will protect the wealth you have amassed for yourself and your loved ones. When you work with an experienced Alabama estate planning attorney, he can show you the value in designing the legacy you want to create for both future generations and what you care for most.

In addition, your experienced Alabama estate planning attorney can advise you on the strategies for generational wealth transfers in your Alabama estate plan. Transferring generational wealth in an Alabama estate plan refers to the process of legally and strategically passing on assets, investments, properties, and other forms of wealth from one generation to the next within a family. These are strategies that not all Alabama estate planning firms specialize in as they involve strategically planning for not only the here and now, but require the firm to keep a careful watch on the laws and tax rules that could unravel the estate planning that has been carefully created.

Do you currently have an Alabama estate plan? When was it created? Has it been updated recently? What planning tools are included within it? And, perhaps even more importantly, does your Alabama estate plan reflect your current needs, values, family, and the legacy you want to leave at the time of your passing?

In our years of experience, the majority of the clients we work with understand the importance of creating an Alabama estate plan. Our clients want to proactively decide what should happen in a time of sudden crisis or death, and they do not want to leave their wishes either to chance or the Alabama state mandated process. Unfortunately, though, they do not keep in mind the upkeep a comprehensive Alabama estate plan requires. Your Alabama estate plan is a critical part of not only your estate, but your overall health and well being. With that said, your Alabama estate plan should not be left unattended and, instead, be reviewed at least every three years, if not every year, to make sure it will still work the way you need it to.
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Are you looking for ways to help the seniors in your family, neighborhood and community? Did you know that May is National Older Americans Month?  In fact, this celebration of our Older Americans is to encourage communities, families and loved ones to get involved in learning about the issues that our Older Americans face as they age. Do you have senior loved ones in your family? Do you have neighbors who are seniors? This month think about how you could help the Older Americans in your life by using the ideas below.

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Have you recently had a loved one diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS)? Or do you know someone with multiple sclerosis or wonder what exactly multiple sclerosis is? Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder that is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 50. MS damages or destroys the protective covering, known as myelin, surrounding the nerves of the central nervous system and causes reduced communication between the brain and nerve pathways. This leads to a variety of health

Are you an Alabama senior? Do you enjoy giving gifts of money to all your loved ones during the holidays? Be aware that as you get older you may need to be careful about giving monetary gifts. In fact, there is an elder law risk when you make monetary holiday gifts. We would like to explain why as you continue to read our blog.

To begin, did you know that monetary gifts can impact Medicaid eligibility?  The fact is, if you needed to apply for Medicaid in the next five years, your gift giving could have significant consequences.  The impact of monetary gifts could be on both the giver and receiver.

Are you familiar with long-term care planning? If you are not, you are not alone. There are a surprising number of Americans who do not know what long-term care is.  Most everyone is familiar with acute care, or addressing an immediate injury or illness, and something that you would regularly see your doctor about, but again, most people are not familiar with long-term care.