I Care a Lot is a recently released Netflix film that follows the fictional account of a nursing home administrator who systematically exploits the elderly for financial gain. There are dramatic scenes of Marla Grayson (the nursing home administrator) with her wall of mugshots of her elderly residents. It shows a dramatic insensitivity that the…
When your relative is in an assisted living facility or nursing home, oftentimes they cannot access their assets any longer. That’s when it is necessary for you to have the financial power of attorney, which allows you to immediately access your loved one’s assets and act on their behalf. In Maryland, financial powers of attorney…
Challenges of Estate Planning During COVID-19 COVID-19 has made everything more complicated and riskier, from getting food to taking care of family members. With the current stay-at-home orders, and with the likelihood of stores and businesses slowly reopening, how can you best care for your elderly parent or loved one? Essential Elder Law Documents for…
It is human nature to procrastinate. Often, we have clients that review the estate planning documents only when there has been a health care crisis in the family. However, with the global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families are now making it paramount to focus on the essential estate planning documents, including the…
It is critical during this time period that if you have a loved one in the hospital, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home, that you have his/her advance directive. Since contact with a loved one during the pandemic may be extremely problematic, it’s important for you to already have this document,…
What happens if I can’t find my dad’s original last will and testament? Can I use a photocopy of his last will and testament? There are problems in using a copy of a last will and testament. Prior to about ten years ago, the answer was you could not submit a photocopy of one’s last…
We had another will contest win. Our client was gracious enough to send us a card expressing her thanks. This is what she had to say: “Thank all of you for the way you handled our case. You guys are wonderful. Along with being very professional, you showed us such compassion. You guys went over…
Does a Surviving Spouse have a Right to the Deceased Spouse’s 401(k) or IRA? When choosing a beneficiary for a retirement plan, it is important to understand how your spouse will be treated under the plan. Surviving spouses are treated differently under 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). While a 401(k) provides protections for a…