If the company you selected to manage your IRA or other retirement account is sold or merges with another company, consider submitting a fresh beneficiary designation form. Today I had yet another scenario where the IRA custodian could not locate the beneficiary form post-merger and it is going to make a difference. When completing the […]
Reimbursements for COVID-Related Funeral and Burial Costs
Funeral assistance payments will be available from the federal government for Covid-19 related deaths in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. This Funeral Assistance program, administered by FEMA, will reimburse funeral and burial costs up to $9,000. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the national median cost for […]
Reimbursements for COVID Funeral and Burial Costs
If you have a loved one who died of Covid in 2020, the federal government will reimburse funeral and burial costs up to $7,000. This $2 billion provision, advanced by Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was included in the $900 billion stimulus and COVID-19 relief bill, the Consolidated Appropriation Act. FEMA, […]
Preparing For COVID-19 Checklist
What you can do now to care for you, loved ones, friends, and neighbors: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, singing Happy Birthday or another favorite tune twice. Do this especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or first thing when you come home after work, school, or errands. […]
Accessing Medical Information and Directives
What to do with your Medical Directive? You have put your directions regarding your medical treatment and care in writing and named agents to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate with your health care providers. Now what? VIRGINIA In Virginia, you can register your advance directive with the Virginia Advance Health Care […]
Options for Cremated Remains
For most of us, our ancestors and loved ones were buried in a cemetery. As burial space becomes increasingly more expensive, more people are choosing cremation. Sometimes cremains are buried in a cemetery plot or placed into a columbarium. Increasingly it is becoming more common to retain a loved one’s cremains. For some that can […]
Home for the holidays, time to have The Talk: get the new year off to a good start
As the family gathered for Christmas, I finally had The Talk with my Favorite Nephew who was home from college. This talk was about being smart and taking steps to protect himself. We sat down with his laptop and I started by asking if he’d ever checked his credit report. First, I sent him to […]
Thanksgiving: A Time for Family and For Remembering
As you and your loved ones gather this Thanksgiving, part of the conversation is likely to include those not sitting around the food laden table. Family unknown to some at the table. This year, consider joining the StoryCorps project called The Great Thanksgiving Listen to record the memories and lives of your elders. Memorialize their […]
New Medicare Tool
Anyone who is approaching age 65 or already has Medicare knows it is a challenge to sort out the various options and then decide on which Medicare plan to select. That chore just got easier – there’s a new online tool to help you to make informed decisions about which plan will serve your needs […]
Planning for Retirement: Federal Employees
Federal employees thinking about retiring before 2020 need to get planning. Now. My clients frequently ask about preparing for their retirement. I’m all about planning. Getting prepared for what might be ahead is a wise way to go. As Benjamin Franklin told us, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Federal employees […]
Welcome to November
Welcome to November – National Family Caregiver Month and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. If you have been or know someone who has been a caregiver, we can agree that is a very challenging job. A job that is frequently unpaid and often never ending. In recognition of the millions of unpaid caregivers, there are […]
Family Cemeteries: Time marches on, and sometimes over, them
Family and historical cemeteries are often forgotten or even ignored. Most recently this has come to light in a Virginia matter. More than 250 years ago, Zachariah and Elizabeth Terrell Moorman purchased land in Lynchburg where they and their descendants lived. In 1972, Embra Moorman Tillotson sold the last parcel to Jerry Falwell’s Old Time […]
New CFPB Guidebooks to Handling Someone Else’s Money
When handling someone else’s money, it is important to know how to manage the money and property properly. Previously I’ve written about some very helpful guidelines published by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) for an agent under a power of attorney, conservator (guardian) appointed by the court, trustee, or a government fiduciary. The CFPB […]
New Book! Positioning Yourself for Referrals
My copy of “How to Capture and Keep Clients” was just delivered. Editor Jennifer Rose had asked me to contribute a chapter on Positioning Yourself for Referrals. It was a good exercise in looking back at what I’ve done along the way in building my practice and what I have seen others do to develop […]
Selecting a Nursing Home: What to Consider and What are the Ratings
Deciding which nursing home is appropriate for yourself or a loved one can be very challenging. Where does the search even begin? Remember too that nursing homes aren’t just long term care residences, they also provide short-term skilled nursing care such as after a hospitalization. Every day about 1.3 million people are cared for by […]
How Livable is Your Community to Those 50+?
If you are thinking about where you want to live in retirement or how to make your community more friendly to an aging population, the AARP has created an online tool for you. The goal of the AARP Livability Index is to identify the most livable places. It is based on interviews with 4,500 Americas […]
Taxpayer Identity Theft – Protect Yourself
For the second time this week someone I know has become the victim of identity theft. Again the person’s Social Security number was used fraudulently to file something with the IRS. As I write each year, taxpayer identity theft is an ever growing problem. The best preventive option is to file your tax returns as […]
Facebook: Ok to Name Account Manager For When a User Dies
As I’ve previously written, digital property presents unique challenges in estate planning. What happens with your digital life when you die or if you are in a coma? Facebook announced a new feature today that will permit users to provide a contact who can manage the user’s page after the user’s death. Or users can […]
Technology Changing and Improving Home Care for Sick and Frail Adults
As any caregiver can tell you, there’s never enough time in the day or help to get everything done. Many are turning to digital resources to help care for loved ones who are ill or for frail elders. These digital resources can be hardware, websites, apps, webinars, or videos on YouTube. This comprehensive piece from […]
Are You Backing Up Your Digital Life?
The holidays were filled with lots of wonderful opportunities to take pictures. Then those photos were downloaded to computers with the thought they would be held for safekeeping. But are they really secure? Many people were the happy recipients of new laptops or desktop computers that they are now happily using. Was a backup system […]
Obituaries – Life’s Stories and Lessons on Living Life Better
When I was reporter for The Atlanta Constitution, my colleagues and I had deep respect for those who wrote obituaries, stories on how a life had been lived. As an attorney handling estate matters, both planning and administration, I know writing an obit is a solemn and often sad task. As this article describes, many […]
Is Your Financial Advisor Legally Required to Act Only for Your Benefit?
When you seek guidance from a professional financial advisor, do you know to which standard your advisor must comply? Is it the lower “suitability” standard or the higher “fiduciary” standard? With the fiduciary standard, the registered investment adviser (RIA) is legally required to act for the sole benefit of and in the best interest of […]
Have Medicare Part D? This is an important day
Simply assuming your current Part D plan is still your best option can cost you money. Do you have new prescription medications? Have any of your prescription dosages changed? Have you moved within your state so a different pharmacy is now more convenient? Take the time to consider which plan is best for your current […]
Finding Family Members: Virtual Genealogy Fair
If you have looked for family members to add to your family tree, you’ve probably visited the National Archives. You don’t have to travel to DC to tap into the treasure trove inside that majestic building. Federal records can be accessed online at no cost from the comfort of your home. Later this month the […]
Retired and Considering Remarrying? Consider how Social Security benefits will change
For three in four single retirees more than half of their income comes from Social Security. A divorced retiree who was married for at least a decade is entitled to spousal Social Security benefits, the same as if they were still married. The benefits are available even if the ex-spouse remarries. That eligibility ends when […]
Elder Justice Initiative – Help for Victims, Loved Ones, and Other Professionals
Each year about 1 in 10 seniors age 60+ is abused. And yet, abuse of elders is significantly underreported, only about 1 in every 23 cases. A new Elder Justice resource came online this week. This US Department of Justice website targets abuse and financial exploitation of the elderly. One section is for victims and […]
You’ve Inherited Property with a Mortgage, Now What?
Hearing that you’ve inherited real estate is the good news. Then there can be uncertainty about what an existing mortgage might mean. Many fear they have to get a new mortgage on their name, that they won’t be able to, and that they will lose the property if the lender calls the loan. The Consumer […]
Who Cares for Your Digital Life and Afterlife?
What happens with your digital life when you die or if you are in a coma? The Washington Post interviewed me in a piece that highlighted Delaware’s new law that grants access to digital property owned by someone who is incapacitated or has died. As I told the reporter, in my practice I regularly see […]
Preparing For And Getting Through Divorce
If divorce is something you are thinking about, are in the midst of, or have gone through, Daily Finance has an article on financial, tax, and legal related points to consider. The author has prepared a thorough list of 22 things to consider in moving from married to divorced. I am in strong agreement with […]
Get A Car Insurance Discount, But You’ll Get Carded
Many complain that with turning 50 they started to get mail from AARP. Maybe the news that taking AARP Smart Driver™ Course can reduce the cost of car insurance will leave a more favorable impression. In Virginia, DC, and 32 other states, if you take the AARP course in a classroom, your insurance company is […]
Preventing Financial Exploitation in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
The good folks at the Consumer Financial Protection Board are at it again. This time they are warning about financial exploitation of residents in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The CFPR has published a manual for operators and staff of nursing homes or assisted living facilities to protect vulnerable residents, those older and/or disabled. […]
Healthiest States for Seniors
Where does your state stand in the America’s Health Rankings Senior Report? Ranked as the healthiest states for seniors, overall Maryland was 10th and Virginia was 21st, DC was not ranked. Each state’s strengths and challenges are identified. The United Health Foundation Report focused on what determines the overall health outcomes for those 65 and […]
Do I Have Enough to Retire?
Clients frequently ask me this question. My response is generally that my licenses are to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, not give financial advice. I encourage them to seek professional guidance as they work through developing an answer to their question. What about those online calculators? Search for “retirement calculator” […]
E-Z Legal Form Not so Easy with Court Fight Over Will
Ann Aldrich probably thought she was doing well when she signed a will that left a list of her assets to her sister and if her sister didn’t survive then to her brother James. However, the will she signed in 2004, an “E-Z Legal Form,” was not drafted for her by a lawyer. Certainly unintended, […]
Tax Free Hurricane Preparedness
Tax Free Hurricane Preparedness Days in Virginia From Sunday, May 25, through Saturday, May 31, 2014, you can buy certain items tax free to prepare your home and business as hurricane season approaches. Some of the qualifying products are ice packs, batteries, radios, tarps, plastic sheeting, bungee cords, duct tape, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, […]
Emergency Preparedness
Because Spring will arrive one day, download a free Ready Virginia app now so you are prepared when a weather emergency strikes. You can use the template on these interactive apps to create a customized emergency plan for your family to share. They also includes National Weather Service watches and warnings, local emergency management disaster […]
Senior Health Website
Information on about anything can be found everywhere. Going through all of that information is mind-numbing and can be confusing too. If you’re looking for information related to the health of older Americans, the National Institutes of Health has a website for you. This NIGSeniorHealth website was recently renovated keeping in mind that many of […]
Funeral Choices
As family and friends face the loss of a loved one, they are also often thrust into becoming instant funeral service consumers. The choices can be overwhelming and the costs significant. I talk with my clients about the gift of making pre-need arrangements – funeral, cremation, burial, etc. I describe pre-planning as a gift because […]
So You’re 18
This week I had the privilege of addressing the senior class of The GW Community School about the changes that accompany an 18th birthday. With this bright, engaging group we talked about the rights they now have as well as the responsibilities they face. I gave each senior a copy of “So You’re 18,” published […]
Senior Citizens Handbook: Answers, Information, & Resources in Virginia
For senior citizens, their loved ones, and caregivers, many, many questions can arise. Finding answers can seem overwhelming and very time consuming. In Virginia, there is an information rich 112-page book that covers all aspects of senior living. For more than three decades the Virginia State Bar has published the Senior Citizens Handbook: Laws & […]
Checking Out Your Doctor
Frequently I am contacted because a prospective client is facing a pending medical procedure and wants to have a medical agent nominated and other estate planning issues addressed. As you consider a medical procedure, what do you really KNOW about your doctor other than she seems to make sense or he took his time in […]
I Know There’s Life Insurance, Where Is It?
If you believe a loved one may have had a life insurance policy you cannot locate, you have two options: first, contact every life insurance company; or, second, pay a service to search for you. Below is a list below of some of the most popular national life insurance companies and their contact information. Some […]
Smoke Detectors & Alarming News
A colleague and his wife learned some alarming news just before midnight Friday. The firefighters who visited their home said that smoke detectors and fire alarms have a “best by” date. After a decade, it time to replace them. All of his eight alarms were made in 2001 and were well beyond their best by […]
Be Aware and Fight Tax Identity Theft
With the approaching tax season comes reminders to protect yourself against identity theft and tax return fraud. This week is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken a leading role in fighting identity theft and making resources available to consumers such as how to protect your identity, your child’s identity, […]
Helping Others: Navy Yard Families
I was surprised today to be recognized for my pro bono work by the Fairfax Bar Association. I accepted a call to help the family of one of the Navy Yard shooting victims with legal questions regarding funerals, probate, insurance, claims, and other immediate needs. When I met with family members to work through the […]
Resources for the Aging and Elderly
During my tenure as a Congressional staff member, I was pleased to serve as the Director of Communications on the U. S. Senate Special Committee On Aging for U.S. Senator John Heinz, Ranking Member. The Aging Committee focuses on issues related to older Americans. Senator Heinz concentrated much of his efforts on fraud that targeted […]
I’m a Successor Trustee, Now What?
You know your loved one or friend named you as trustee. You get a call that she has been in a terrible accident. You then realize she cannot tend to her financial matters for the near future. Do you know how to locate her lawyer to help you get started as successor trustee? After contacting […]
Remembering Our Veterans and Preserving Their Heartfelt Letters
Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day. The formal day we recognize and honor all those who have served in our armed forces. In school, we learned about the wars, the big battles, and the great leaders. Much less is known about the individuals who served. In my family, my uncle Paul H. Zander, my father Leonard Matthews, […]
What’s A Power of Attorney Agent To Do
If you’ve been named as an agent in someone’s power of attorney, do you know what to do? Or what not to do? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a fact packed guide to help agents (attorneys-in-fact) with their fiduciary duties.
Digital Property Inventory
Have you made an inventory of your digital property? Or will your loved ones be left to search for your things? How will they gain access? These are important questions as I discussed with a reporter for the Fairfax Times and the Gazette.
National Celebrate Pro Bono Week
This week is National Celebrate Pro Bono Week – a time set aside to recognize the contributions lawyers make in providing legal services at no or low cost to those of limited resources. As lawyers we are one of the very few professions, if not the only one, where our Model Rules of Professional Conduct […]
September 21: Alzheimer’s Action Day!
Have you ever forgotten your coffee cup was on the top of your car and driven off? Spaced out on a friend’s birthday? Lost your train of thought mid-conversation? For many of us, these are simply consequences of the hectic lives we lead. For others, they may be signs of something more serious, like […]
Digital Property & How to Get Rid of It
I’ve written lately about the importance of planning for your digital property in case of your incapacity or death. I’ve also encouraged you to make an inventory of digital property so the person caring for you or managing your estate knows what you have, where it is, and how to access it. Now my digital […]
Emergency Planning for Houses of Worship
We no longer have the luxury of thinking of houses of worship as safe places free from violence. One only needs to remember the four precious little girls killed while attending Sunday school when their Birmingham church was bombed 50 years ago this September, or those who attended the youth performance at Tennessee Valley Unitarian […]
Do you know your Digital Property?
Many of us have digital property. Family and vacation photos stored in the cloud for safekeeping and ease of sharing. Music, books, and movies. Email with friends and family as well as business matters. Financial assets and records. We like our digital property – it is easy to use and we can access it from […]
School Is In on Health Insurance
Come October 1st, individuals, the self-employed, and small businesses (less than 50 employees) will have new options for their health insurance. The Health Insurance Marketplace and the Small Business Health Options Program (the SHOP Marketplace) will be open for enrollment. In addition to these new marketplaces, there are also small business health care tax credits […]
Business with a Personal Touch
My law practice is a business. It is how I feed my dog and pay my mortgage. I know that what I do is also personal for my clients. One of the ways I acknowledge the personal side is to send my clients birthday cards that I have custom designed to add some joy to […]
Planning to retire one day?
If your future includes retiring from work, you will want to take a look at a new Retirement Toolkit. Planning for your retirement means getting educated now on the many issues you’ll need to consider. This interactive resource will help guide you through the maze of decisions that lie ahead. This toolkit includes links to […]
Digital Property
If you are reading this, you are likely the owner of digital property. Digital property is very broad – e-mail, texts, social media posts, online accounts, videos, passwords and IDs to access sites, your data on shopping, financial and other sites, electronic documents, online backups, photo collections, and more. In this article, I and my […]
US Supreme Court: Beneficiary Designations Matter
Today the US Supreme Court ruled that when federal employees designate beneficiaries on their federal life insurance that the Virginia General Assembly cannot override it. See Hillman v. Maretta. In 1996 Mr. Hillman, a federal employee, submitted a beneficiary designation form for his federal life insurance that named his then wife Judy Maretta. They divorced […]
National Healthcare Decisions Day: Time to decide about your healthcare
Most of us have strong feelings about the type of health care we want and who should make our medical decisions if we are incapacitated. To highlight the importance of making decisions about your health care while you have the ability to do so, April 16, 2013, has been designated National Healthcare Decisions Day. With […]
What happens to my Google Accounts when I die or if I can’t access them?
Ask and it will be given to you, says the Bible. Users must have asked enough as Google has provided an answer. Now you can decide how your Google Accounts are to be handled if you’ve left them inactive for any reason. Maybe you no longer use Picasa to store your photos. Or perhaps you’ve […]
New Year, Fresh Start
The beginning of a new year is a time when many of us make a fresh start. As you start to pull things together for your tax return preparation, it is a good time to look at your financial record keeping. Were you organized last year in ways that made things simpler for you? If […]
