FALL (ING)
Last Friday at 3:02 PM Central Time, summer here was over. Fall began. Fall. I have had a few thoughts about that word. For the next three months, it will…
Sicker Seniors More Likely to Drop Medicare Advantage Plans
When Sol Shipotow enrolled in a new Medicare Advantage health plan earlier this year, he expected to keep the doctor who treats his serious eye condition. “That turned out not…
Preventive Measures Might Help Delay Dementia or Cognitive Decline
In a landmark report, scientists have endorsed three strategies for preventing dementia and cognitive decline associated with normal aging — being physically active, engaging in cognitive training, and controlling high…
Where Can Service Animals Go?
by Richard A. Courtney, CELA Service animals can change lives. My daughter, Melanie, who’s had service dogs for years, comments that beyond the many helpful tasks they perform and the…
Medicare Milestones
On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare, a health insurance program for elderly Americans, into law. At the bill-signing ceremony, which took place at the Truman Library…
Do a Letter of Intent for Your Child
A “Letter of Intent” is a detailed description of a child (or incapacitated spouse) with a disability, including explanations of his or her medical, physical, mental, emotional, family, social, religious,…
Court Confirms that Joint Ownership Trumps a Will
In 1988, Robert Ehrhardt, Sr. and his wife, Julia, purchased a home as “joint tenants with full rights of survivorship, and not as tenants in common.” In 2000, Robert Sr.…
When is a Lease a Will?
Rose Greer leased land to David and Jene Nunnery. Section 3 of the lease - which extended until July 31, 2025, in automatically renewing one year terms - stated: In…
When a Court Can Undo Joint Ownership
When a widowed parent begins to lose the ability to care for himself, children may move in and take over the management of the parent’s finances. In some cases, the…
Elder Exploitation a Growing Problem
June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. On June 14, Richard Courtney attended the summer meeting of the Elder Law Committee of the American College of Trust and Estate…