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Elder Law & Estate Planning
Setting Up A Special Needs Trust for a Family Member with Disabilities
By: Bernard A. Krooks, Certified Elder Law AttorneyGenerally speaking, there are two kinds of special needs trusts. Those set up to handle money owned by the beneficiary (like a personal injury or medical malpractice settlement, for instance) are usually called first party special needs trusts. Those set up by someone other than the beneficiary, to…
How To Ensure Your Medical Wishes Win Out
By: Alexis Gruttadauria, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP You have your advance directives in place; you’ve designated in your Health Care Proxy and Living Will who you want making your medical decisions once you are no longer able to make them for yourself, and you’ve instructed your agent on what those decisions should be. Now what?…
Changes to Social Security’s Rules May Make Obtaining Disability Benefits More Difficult
By: Arshi Pal, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP On January 18, 2017, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) revised their Regulations with regard to the evidentiary standard Administrative Law Judges (“ALJ”) use to determine eligibility for disability benefits. The new Regulations became effective on March 27, 2017. Five Step Review Process The revised Regulations maintain a five-step…
April is National Financial Literacy Month
The NAEPC Education Foundation and the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) are promoting April 2013 as National Financial Literacy Month. The goal of the awareness campaign is to help the American public learn how to keep their financial and estate plans up to date. Financial Literacy Month was officially designated by a Congressional proclamation. NAEPC is joining with financial professionals, nonprofit organizations and financial services organizations to promote financial literacy.
2017 Tax Scams: What You Need To Know
With tax preparation season upon us, seniors should arm themselves with knowledge and be vigilant against con artists. That can be difficult when scammers are constantly changing their tactics. According to the National Council on Aging, these are the top three scams that seniors should be aware of in 2017: Mass Mailing Fraud. The U.S.…
What Will Happen to Your Facebook Account After You Are Gone
Social media profiles are not the top concern for people planning their estate, but, online accounts contain an enormous amount of personal data. What happens to these accounts? Accounting for digital assets, such as social media accounts and hard-drive backups is worth considering. Here is what a few online services provide in terms of planning:…
The Importance of Executing an Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains
By Alexis Gruttadauria, Esq. In choosing a final resting place, it is important to clearly document your wishes to avoid further hardship on surviving family members who are grieving for the loss of a loved one. If your wishes regarding a burial place are not documented in a written declaration, it could cause a great…
Holiday Reflections
By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. In this holiday season, the attorneys and staff at Littman Krooks send thanks and warm wishes to our clients for trusting us with representing your family. You inspire us each day with your tenacity and care for vulnerable loved ones. We pride ourselves in working with you to make a…
New York State Announces 2017 Medicaid Regional Rates
By Alexis Gruttadauria, Esq., When applying for nursing home Medicaid benefits, there is always a review of the applicant’s financial picture of the five years prior to the filing of the application. This is the famous five-year look-back period. Medicaid reviews those five years of financial information in search of any gifts made by the…
Understanding Powers of Attorney (Video) By Bernard A. Krooks, Esq.
Understanding your Powers of Attorney is critical to estate planning.Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., shares his expertise in this video.
