How You Can Lose (or Gain) Land by Adverse Possession
Over the years, we have counseled many clients who owned portions of “family land” that adjoined lands owned by other family members or neighbors. In many cases, the formal boundaries…
2020 Social Security COLA Expected to be 1.6%
The unofficial estimate would represent the smallest increase in benefits in three years It looks like Social Security benefits will increase by about 1.6% in 2020, more than a full…
New Tax Return Coming for Seniors
Filing an IRS tax return is likely to be simpler next year for at least 10% of the 150 million Americans who do so. That's because there'll be a new…
Pet Trusts Provide Care for Animals Left Behind
One of the phenomena that has accompanied the aging of we Boomers is the explosion of pet ownership in the US. Boomers were the first generation of Americans for whom…
Is Deeding Your Property a Good Deed?
Many clients who come into our office for counsel about estate planning or Medicaid planning own homes and other real property. It may be the largest asset they own. Therefore,…
Ensuring that Structured Settlements Meet Plaintiff Needs
Since large personal injury (PI) settlements must often last a lifetime, plaintiffs may receive some of their funds in the form of periodic payments from an annuity managed by an…
Almost All Americans Take Social Security at the Wrong Time, Study Says
One of the most important decisions in retirement is when to start claiming Social Security. Unfortunately, almost all Americans start taking the benefit at the wrong time, losing out on…
Putting Power(s) in Your Trust
We often use trusts in estate planning to avoid probate, provide effective management of assets, and to make controlled gifts to children or other family members. Trusts are most effective…
Who Gets an Accounting in an Estate?
When someone dies survived by several children, will all those children be entitled to an accounting of how the estate assets are left among them? The answer is No, as…
Grandparent’s Visitation Rights Clarified by Court
Grandparents do not have natural or common law rights to visitation with grandchildren. As noted in this recent Mississippi Court of Appeals decision, a contentious relationship with their own child…