Recent Blog Posts
Steps to Take In Elder Financial Abuse Cases
Earlier this year, a Florida caregiver was arrested after draining thousands of dollars from the bank account of a 91-year-old woman under her supervision. The caregiver used forged checks and unauthorized withdrawals to support her lifestyle while the victim, completely unaware, continued living with complete trust. When the woman’s niece began reviewing bank statements,… Read More »
The Importance of a Living Will for the Elderly
An AARP survey revealed that while over 80% of older adults recognize the significance of end-of-life planning, only 33% have actually created a living will. This disconnect leaves millions of American seniors without clear directives for their medical care when they might need them most. At The Law Office of Laurie R. Chane, we… Read More »
What Ways Can You Effectively Manage a Loved One’s Finances?
More than 38 million Americans provide care for loved ones, with financial management being one of the most critical responsibilities. Taking over someone else’s finances can happen gradually as you notice unopened bills piling up or suddenly after a medical emergency. At The Law Office of Laurie R. Chane, we see Dade City families… Read More »
How Does Trust Litigation Happen?
If you have established a trust, you have already substantially reduced the chances that disputes will arise over your property after you die and that, if disputes arise, they will cause the intended beneficiaries to lose money. Since they are non-probate assets, trusts can operate outside of court, unlike the process of administering a… Read More »
Five Wishes for End-of-Life Care
In civil lawsuits, courts can only award money; they cannot truly heal people’s physical and emotional pain. When probate cases go wrong, family members can become estranged. They might voice their grievances in financial terms, but often the problem is not really about money. How much money you have is largely beyond your control,… Read More »
How Dangerous Is Family Caregiver Burnout?
Money does not buy happiness, but it does enable you to pay others to do tasks that, if you had to do them all by yourself, would be physically and emotionally exhausting. People who choose to age in place and rely on their family to take care of them have an idealized view of… Read More »
Understanding the Four Parts of Medicare
Even if you are determined to think of retirement as all play and no work, to offset your decades of all work and no play, the fact remains that there are still bills to pay, even after you retire. Unfortunately, the social safety net for seniors is not enough to keep up with the… Read More »
Are Online Files and Accounts Probate Assets?
To get a feeling of how much technology has changed our lives, think back to what it was like to go through your bibliophile grandfather’s library when he died. The books piled up to the ceilings in several rooms; assuming that Grandpa’s will did not specify what he wanted you to do with his… Read More »
Resolving Disputes Between Heirs Over Jointly Inherited Real Estate Property
Real estate ownership is synonymous with generational wealth. When newlyweds buy a house, they dream of passing it on to their children as an inheritance decades later. Even if you already own a house, inheriting one from your parents is practically your only chance at owning multiple real estate properties in today’s economy. Inheriting… Read More »
Avoiding Hassle During Probate Requires More Than Just Designating Beneficiaries for Non-Probate Assets
Estate planning lawyers often talk up non-probate assets, such as accounts with transfer on death (TOD) and payable on death (POD) beneficiaries, as a “set it and forget it” way to simplify your estate plan. Of course, if you have started on your estate plan, you know that nothing involving the transfer of property… Read More »
