What is a “Life Estate?”

Frequently asked questions

Last column, I posed the example of a second marriage in which the husband moved into the house already owned by his new spouse. When she dies, what right does he have to continue living in that home? If he continues to live there, what effect will this have on her...

Are You Familiar With The “Grandparent Scam?”

Frequently asked questions, Scams

Previously, I read an article warning about what is called the “Grandparent Scam.”  It is a scam I have been addressing for some time in my presentations. According to the FBI, it works like this:  You’re a grandparent, and you get a phone call or an e-mail from...

How You Can Protect Your Loved Ones from Scams

Frequently asked questions, Scams

Scams have become a serious threat for senior citizens, including in our community. Almost one third of successful scams make senior citizens the victim, even though seniors represent only 12% of the population. There are several reasons for this:  Seniors are the...

Be Aware of the Scams Directed at Your Vulnerable Loved Ones 

Scams

Senior Scams are a despicable but unfortunately common practice.  Seniors are the victims of one-third of scams even though they represent only 12% of the population.  I have previously written about the “grandparent scam,” in which scam artists will call pretending...

Why We Do What We Do

Frequently asked questions

I have two purposes for writing these columns and for offering free presentations about estate planning. First, I hope to educate. Estate planning and elder law can have complex strategies and concepts, but we can cut through much of the mystery if I can help people...

Do You Know if Your Aging Parent Needs Help?

Frequently asked questions

It is not uncommon to receive a call from an adult child concerned about a parent’s decreasing ability to care for him or herself. Circumstances often require assistance the child does not have the ability to provide. A constant concern is the possibility of an aging...