What are Survivors Benefits: A Brief History Economic insecurity was a social issue our nation addressed over 80 years ago with the enactment of the Social Security Act in 1935. What most people don’t realize is that the Act also provides survivors benefits: spouses, children, and dependent parents of a deceased worker can receive survivors […]
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Can I estate plan to avoid probate? In short, yes, there are some ways to exclude assets from probate. What is Probate? Probate refers to the legal process for distributing the assets of a deceased person, and often requires the assistance of an attorney and a court proceeding. Not only does probate come with a
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Is there a Right Time to Estate Plan? Absolutely. When it comes to estate planning, there is no time like the present. Illness, death, and taxes are some of the few certainties about life and are also good reasons to think about estate planning. The problem is that there is usually no known timeline for
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And what you need to know about a Living Will during the COVID-19 pandemic. When you are admitted to the hospital for treatment, you will be asked if you have any estate planning documents like a “Living Will”. In Texas, we call this document a “Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates” (or “Advance Medical
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I frequently receive phone calls from friends or family members of an individual suffering from a mental health crisis. Their question is the same, “Can I get a guardianship over them and force them to take their medications, or get psychiatric care?” Or sometimes the question is whether they can get a trust or some
Mental Health and Guardianship: How to Get Help Read More »
If you have called Social Security recently, you probably heard a recorded message notifying you about ongoing social security scams. Unfortunately, scammers frequently target our most vulnerable members of society: the elderly and disabled. Thus, it is important to understand how these scams work and know what steps you should take if you, or a
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