Trusts: The Swiss Army Knife of Estate Planning

We may think of a spoiled heiress to a large fortune, whose parents were savvy enough to prevent her from having full access to her funds. On the other hand, we could imagine a loved one with special needs, whose needs will be provided for with trust-protected money.

How Do I Keep My Spendthrift Son-in-Law from Getting the Money I Give my Daughter in My Estate?

September 15, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

My daughter, my only child, recently married a nice man. However, he is not responsible with his finances. I don’t want my son-in-law to have any access to her money or through a divorce via equitable distribution.

What Happens If I Don’t Fund My Trust?

September 14, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Business Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

If you have updated your estate plan during the Covid crisis and even found a way to sign your documents while maintaining social distance, do not overlook the last step of trust funding.

Why Did Trump Consider Reforming Long-Term Care Insurance?

September 12, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Long-Term Care Planning

Two years ago, the Trump Administration quietly began a review of the nation’s long-term care (LTC) insurance system, focused primarily on ways to enhance private coverage.

What’s Happening to Valerie Harper’s Emmy Awards in Her Estate?

September 11, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Even in our topsy-turvy world of coronavirus chaos, one thing stands firm: thou shall not sell old Emmy awards on the open market.

A Four-Decades Long Social Security Scam Finally Ends

September 10, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning

In February, Social Security officials calculated that a woman who was sent monthly checks for decades was 114 years old. The problem? The lifelong New Yorker died more than 40 years ago—and may never have seen a penny of her retirement checks totaling nearly a half-million dollars.

What Is a ‘Caregiver’ Agreement?

As family members age and require care, the burden of that care often falls on an adult child. For those that leave jobs to care for family members, it can become a financial hardship for the family.

Daughters of Don Lewis from ‘Tiger King’ File Lawsuit

September 8, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Estate Planning, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

The surviving daughters of Don Lewis, a Tampa man who went missing 23 years ago this month, have filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County court against Tiger King subjects Kenny Farr and Carole Baskin, along with a woman listed as a witness on Lewis’ will.

What Do I Need besides a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare?

September 5, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

A power of attorney (POA) is a powerful thing. A financial power of attorney document allows an appointed person to make financial, legal and property decisions on another individual’s behalf.

How Can I Avoid Family Fighting in My Estate Planning?

September 4, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

One problem that frequently stems from the inheritance process is fractured relationships between siblings. Unfortunately, the common denominator in many of these situations is the parents' estate plan.