October 26, 2009
A recent study by the AARP found that nearly a quarter of the adult population are providing voluntary care for family members and friends. As the population ages and people live longer, this number is sure to rise. To reward these caregivers, parents often would leave an unequal inheritance to the caregiver child. Often these [...]
October 2, 2009
Normally, seniors receiving social security benefits see a 2-3% increase in their benefits each year. For the first time in decades, there may not be a cost-of-living adjustment. For some, social security checks may be lower when factoring in Medicare Part B premiums. Most, however, are protected by a provision that ensures Medicare premiums don’t [...]
July 29, 2009
Planning your estate, whether young or old, is very important. Sound advice from your accountant, financial advisor, insurance agent and estate planning attorney can help you plan for whatever bumps in the road you encounter during your lifetime. Younger couples must establish a financial plan to make sure they provide for their children and can [...]
July 10, 2009
LITTLE KNOWN PROGRAM CAN PROVIDE HELP FOR VETERANS
One often unclaimed, but very valuable program available to veterans is the VA aid and attendance benefit. This program was created to help veterans, veterans and spouses or surviving spouses by providing financial assistance to help defray the costs and expenses with assisted living or at home care. Generally, [...]
June 23, 2009
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BEGIN PLANNING?
As everyones financial and medical backgrounds are different, so is the “right” time to begin planning. The more time you have to plan before long term care is needed, the more options you may have and less stress you and your family will endure. Anytime you have a [...]
Christopher Sharry
Medicaid Planning
Tags: Add new tag, Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, long term care, Medicaid, medicaid law, Medicaid Planning, nursing home law, public benefits, worcester estate planning, worcester estate planning lawyer, worcester wills lawyer
June 12, 2009
Elder law is an area of law that encompasses any legal issue facing the elderly. It is often associated with estate planning but can involve much broader social, economic and health related difficulties facing aging Americans. Some of the concerns that become more important to us as we grow older and may require more careful [...]
Christopher Sharry
Elder Law
Tags: Asset Protection, disability planning, Durable Power of Attorney, Elder Law, estate distribution, Estate Planning, financial planning, government benefits, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Medicaid Planning, Retirement Planning, special needs planning, ssi, Trust, worcester estate planning lawyer
June 8, 2009
Being a parent comes with great joy but significant responsibility. It is no different for parents of children with special needs. In some situations, careful planning can be critical to address a family’s financial needs. Parents must not only plan to care for their children during their lives, but they must also take steps to ensure they [...]
Christopher Sharry
Special Needs Trust
Tags: Asset Protection, disability planning, Estate Planning, financial planning, government benefits, Medicaid, special needs planning, ssi, supplemental security income, worcester estate planning, worcester estate planning lawyer
May 27, 2009
Senior Resource Center of Worcester County is now offering a free resource guide to Seniors in the Worcester County area. Senior Resource Center of Worcester County (SRCWC) is a full-service elder advisory group assisting Seniors and their families in the areas of financial guidance, asset protection and care coordination. SRCWC offers solutions in identifying and [...]
January 6, 2009
When discussing estate planning, I often hear the remark “I don’t need a Will”. Many think that they don’t have a large enough estate, or that everything will automatically pass to their spouse. That is not always the case.
If you die without a Will, Massachusetts law will control how your property will be distributed. After payment of debts, [...]
Christopher Sharry
Wills
Tags: Add new tag, Asset Protection, estate, estate distribution, Estate Planning, intestate estate, probate, property distribution, Wills, worcester estate planning, worcester wills lawyer
January 2, 2009
A recent review by the Associated Press found that the quality of nursing homes across the country varies widely by region. Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that better care is often found in areas with higher income levels. Massachusetts is no different, as statistics revealed that nursing homes in wealthier counties across the [...]