by Keith Morris, President Wow, it is already February! It will be the end of the year before we know it. If we at Elder Law of Michigan, Inc. want to accomplish as much in 2016 as we did in 2015, we need to kick it into high gear. After all, it is already February, remember? Now that is not meant to imply in any … Continue reading One Last Look Back at 2015
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This is the final post in our series regarding wills, trusts, and estate planning. Other posts in the series can be found here. In our previous posts, we discussed the different types of wills and trusts. There is one other estate planning document that we haven’t discussed that allows you to transfer real estate to your beneficiaries without probate. … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts – Part 8
by Rachael Savoie, Office Manager For many seniors, this annual day of love can be just another day. Here are a few suggestions on how you may brighten Valentine’s Day for that special senior in your life. Have flowers delivered, or deliver them yourself if you live nearby; If your loved one has old letters from the love of their life, dust them off and … Continue reading Sunday is Valentine’s Day
by Ron Tatro, Vice President Independence is a wonderful thing. Throughout our lives it comes to us in many different forms. As children, independence allows us to explore new sites, sounds, smells, and meet new mostly older people. In our teen years, driving brings independence for many along with new social experiences like attending a prom and meeting more new friends. In those middle years, … Continue reading National Senior Independence Month is a Time to Celebrate Your Age
by Pat Gray, MiCAFE Community Partner Liaison The idea of presenting people you love with gifts is as old as the human race. The idea of exchanging gifts at Christmas time originated in the Bible, when three wise men traveled to deliver gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn baby Jesus. Shepherds in the fields also came to give gifts to the newborn … Continue reading My Christmas Gifting
by Rosa Robinson, Foreclosure Prevention Specialist Historically, and some would argue even today, that African-Americans have been marginalized solely because of the color of their skin. For centuries their achievements, while significant, went unacknowledged or were minimized. To raise awareness, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained Historian, organized Negro History Week on the second week of February in 1926 to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass … Continue reading Black History Month: Then and Now
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney The Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors receives many calls each week regarding caregivers. There comes a time in many people’s lives when they are unable to take care of themselves and may need to seek the help of others. It may be as simple as having someone come in and help prepare meals or go food shopping. Or, it … Continue reading Caring for a Loved One – Five Questions to Determine if you are a Caregiver
by Michael Wendel, Administrative Specialist Many seniors are not required to file a tax return due to their income status. Yet, seniors can still be eligible for Michigan tax credits, such as the Homestead Property Tax Credit or the Home Heating Credit, which can be filed separately from a tax return. By not filing for these credits, seniors could be missing out on these and other assistance credits, which otherwise could help reduce … Continue reading 3 Considerations for Seniors this Tax Season
by Sandra Wisnewski, J.D., Director of the Mid-America Pension Rights Project EDRO is the acronym for, Eligible Domestic Relations Order. Without getting too bogged down with the gory details, a EDRO is a document that is generated when a divorce occurs. A EDRO is used when one or both of the parties earned a pension through a public employer during the marriage. A pension … Continue reading What is an EDRO?
by Natalie Pearce, L.M.S.W., Director of Economic Security January 20-26, 2016 is Healthy Weight Week. What is a healthy weight? We all want to know the answer to this question! The truth is that one size does not fit all, literally and figuratively. Numerous factors play into what constitutes a healthy weight for each individual, including height, age, and bone structure, amongst others. After reviewing sources of … Continue reading This week is Healthy Weight Week
