Many people are aware that their personal healthcare information is generally made confidential by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”). Despite the privacy protections of the Act, physicians and other healthcare workers are authorized to make certain disclosures concerning a patient’s healthcare without the patient’s authorization. For example, in emergency situations, in…. Read More
The SECURE (“Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement”) Act was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019. Among other things, the Act significantly curbs the ability of owners of Individual Retirement Accounts to leave benefits to their surviving children in a manner that minimizes income tax consequences. Prior to the…. Read More
So after jumping through all of the necessary hoops to get your child who just graduated from high school admitted and settled into college, you may be breathing a sigh of relief now that it is October. By now, hopefully your child is making new friends, busily working on a paper for English 101, and…. Read More
The legal lingo around special needs trusts can be confusing. Fortunately, special needs trusts can be placed into three main categories. The problem is each category may be referred to in multiple ways. As a threshold matter, a “special needs trust,” also known as a “supplemental needs trust,” or a “SNT” (pronounced “snit”) is a…. Read More
Most people who consider estate planning focus on the contents of their wills. While this is an important consideration, many fail to consider that a will only functions with respect to assets that become part of the probate estate. In many cases, assets will pass outside of the probate process. Among other things, this can…. Read More
A common question after completing an estate plan is how often it should be reviewed to determine if it still meets your needs. Just as you need to change the oil in your car every 5,000 miles for it to keep working, or you need to see a doctor for an annual physical to keep…. Read More
