When you are a kid, finding the perfect Father’s Day gift can be a struggle. You want to get him something he will enjoy, but few young people can afford a new set of golf clubs or a shiny new grill. Instead, you end up settling for the standard necktie and socks. Even after you become an adult, it does not get any easier to shop for Dad. When it comes to expressing your love and appreciation for everything he has done, more “stuff” doesn’t cut it. If your dad is like most, he would tell you that the greatest gift you could give him would be for you to abide by the values and principles he tau ..read more

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The Netflix movie I Care a Lot provides a dark, violent, and somewhat comedic take on the real life dangers of the legal (and sometimes corrupt) guardianship system. While the film’s twisting plot may seem far fetched, it sheds light on a tragic phenomenon—the abuse of seniors at the hands of crooked “professional” guardians. Recap of Part 1 Last week in Part 1 of this series, I offered a brief synopsis of the movie, which revolves around Marla Grayson, a crooked professional guardian who makes her living by preying on vulnerable seniors, and we then outlined the true events that inspired ..read more

The Netflix movie I Care a Lot provides a dark, violent, and somewhat comedic take on the real life and not-at-all funny dangers of the legal (and sometimes corrupt) guardianship system. While the film’s twisting plot may seem far-fetched, it sheds light on a tragic phenomenon—the abuse of seniors at the hands of crooked “professional” guardians. In this new two-part blog series, I will discuss how the movie depicts such abuse, how this can occur in real life, and what you can do to prevent something similar from happening to you or your loved ones using proactive estate planning and my Family ..read more

Welcome back to Part Two of my recent law blog series where I am highlighting the seven ways you can save money on your 2020 tax bill. Last week I discussed how the IRS recently announced that the deadline for filing your 2020 federal income taxes has been pushed back from April 15 to May 17, 2021, which gives you an extra month to get your tax return handled. While there are dozens of potential tax breaks available, here are the remaining four ways you can save money on your 2020 tax bill. 4. New Rules for Early Withdrawals from Retirement Accounts If your finances were seriously impacted by ..read more

The IRS recently announced that the deadline for filing your 2020 federal income taxes has been pushed back from April 15 to May 17, 2021, which gives you an extra month to get your tax return handled. Thanks to recent legislation, you could see major tax breaks when filing your 2020 income taxes this spring. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March 2020 provides individual taxpayers with several hefty tax-saving opportunities, many of which are only available this year. Further, President Biden’s new relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan (ARP ..read more

Facebook has approximately 2.8 billion users online and you are likely one of them. If you use Facebook or other social media platforms to share, track, and report on important life events, it can provide an intimate snapshot of your life. Your social media digital footprint can also serve as a key part of your legacy—and one you will likely want to protect following your death. With this in mind, as with any other digital asset you own, you should include your social media profiles and credentials within your estate plan. Facebook, in particular, offers a special function called a “legacy con ..read more

It’s 2021 and we are still dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.  Bleh. This last year has been difficult for everyone, but the elderly have been particularly hard hit. While businesses and schools have slowly started to reopen, health officials recommend that social distancing measures and mask mandates remain in place. Because seniors face the most health risks from COVID-19, most of them have been careful to avoid close contact with their family members. This loss of in-person connection for such an extended period of time can cause people to feel isolated and lonely, w ..read more

If you are reading this, you made it to the 2020 holiday season! While this year may not feature the big family get-togethers of years past, you will still likely be visiting with loved ones in some fashion, whether virtually or in smaller groups. Despite what you may think, the holidays are a good time to bring up estate planning. Given the ongoing pandemic, talking about these issues is particularly urgent this time around. That said, asking your dad about his end-of-life wishes while he is watching football or over-filling his plate from the charcuterie table is not the best time to broach ..read more

November 6, 2020 is “National Love Your Lawyer Day,” which started in 2001 as a way to celebrate lawyers for their positive contributions and encourage the public to view lawyers in a more favorable light. I am dedicated to improving the public’s perception of lawyers by offering family-centered legal services specifically tailored to provide my clients with the kind of love, attention, and trust I would want for my own loved ones. If you are like most people, you probably think that estate planning is just one more task to check off your life’s endless “to-do” list. You may shop around and fi ..read more