A federal watchdog warned lawmakers that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs needs to fully revise the 80-year-old criteria for awarding disability payments or risk miscalculating benefits for millions of…
Max and Carolyn Dorris conveyed real property in Calhoun County, Mississippi, to their sons Kenneth and Brian, reserving life estates to themselves. (This means Max and Carolyn had the right…
Preparing and organizing your financial information for when you are no longer capable will bring peace of mind to you today. At the same time, it may relieve your loved…
Estate planning, or legacy planning, entails preparing your affairs for the future, including death and other life events. While older adults might give more thought to estate planning, it is…
In addition to performing helpful tasks, service dogs offer unconditional love and opportunities for social interaction. Service animals can change lives. My daughter, Melanie, who’s had service dogs for years,…
MPB Radio Podcasts with Rick Courtney Rick Courtney has been a regular guest on the Mississippi Public Broadcasting radio show “In Legal Terms” where he has discussed and answered listener…
Takeaways Social Security provides spousal benefits to eligible spouses of retired or disabled workers, potentially up to half of the worker’s full retirement benefit. Survivor benefits are available to family…
I am often asked if someone serving as guardian, conservator, agent under a power of attorney, or spouse is liable for the debts and liabilities of the ward or principal…
When a spouse or parent has been diagnosed with dementia or some other condition that affects cognition, the family members may conclude (or be told by others) that the person…
In December 2014, Congress passed the Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (ABLE Act). This law, found at Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code,…
