Our Blog
Welcome to the blog of R. F. Meyer & Associates, where we share company news and informative articles related to our Elder Law, Probate and Estate Planning legal practice.
How to Handle Sibling Disputes Over a Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents, but when one sibling is named in a power of attorney, there is the potential for disputes with other siblings. No matter which side you are on, it is important to know your rights and...
Can I Give My Kids $15,000 a Year?
If you have it to give, you certainly can, but there may be consequences should you apply for Medicaid long-term care coverage within five years after each gift. The $15,000 figure is the amount of the current gift tax exclusion (for 2018), meaning that any person who...
It’s Now Harder for Veterans to Qualify for Long-Term Care Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has finalized new rules that make it more difficult to qualify for long-term care benefits. The rules establish an asset limit, a look-back period, and asset transfer penalties for claimants applying for VA pension benefits that...
October Newsletter released
Today we issued out October 2018 edition of the R. F. Meyer & Associates Newsletter. We’ve included some great articles this month. They will give you information and tips about: Shopping around for Medigap policies; Prices vary widely, so do your homework to save...
Don’t wait too long to purchase long-term care insurance
The older you get, the harder it is to qualify for long-term care insurance. If you are interested in buying this insurance, it is better to act sooner rather than later. Many people put off purchasing long-term care insurance until they need it, but by then, it may...
How long will you live? Four life expectancy calculators
How much you need for retirement depends a great deal on how long you expect to live. There are now many Web-based calculators that can give you an idea of your life expectancy based on your current age, gender, family health history, smoking and drinking habits,...
Fear of losing home to Medicaid contributes to elder abuse case
A California daughter and granddaughter’s fear of losing their home to Medicaid may have contributed to a severe case of elder abuse. If the pair had consulted with an elder law attorney, they might have figured out a way to get their mother the care she needed and...
September Newsletter: Sad to see Aretha’s estate head to probate court
It shocks me, still, when famous people with large fortunes die without a will. Latest case-in-point: Aretha Franklin. One of the best singers of my lifetime, Aretha died a couple of weeks ago at age 76. She was married twice, but long divorced and living as a single...
Aretha Franklin reportedly left no will; estate headed to probate
The Detroit Free Press is reporting renowned singer Aretha Franklin died with no will on record. Now her four adult sons have filed notice with the court that they are interested parties in her estate, which looks like it will be settled in probate court. Aretha...