Category: Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors

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FYI, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, MiCAFE, Money and Finances, Planning for the Future, senior independence, taxes, Tips

Don’t Have to File a Michigan Income Tax Return? Maybe You Should Anyway

by James Michael Curcio, Hotline Intern Many older Americans count themselves among the 45% of taxpayers who do not pay federal income tax, either because their income is too low or because their income is not taxable. While not owing federal taxes does not necessarily mean you do not owe state taxes, it is likely that if you are not filing a federal return, you … Continue reading Don’t Have to File a Michigan Income Tax Return? Maybe You Should Anyway

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Client story, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Money and Finances

Seniors Sacrifice Their Own Needs To Please Their Children

  by Dave Jones, Volunteer Attorney At times we hear from seniors who want to give their assets to their children, although the seniors need the assets themselves. Recently, I had one such case. Our client was an elderly woman, in her late 80s, with limited income who owned a house and a vacation cottage. She had several children, but was particularly attached to her middle … Continue reading Seniors Sacrifice Their Own Needs To Please Their Children

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FYI, Legal, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Money and Finances, Planning for the Future, seniors

I am 65 and stuck with student loan debt. What do I do?

by Jadranko Tomic-Bobas, Managing Hotline Attorney   Over the last decade, outstanding student loan debt has nearly tripled with the current total is $1.3 trillion. Households with a net worth of less than $8500 hold more than 60%. More than 3 million Americans ages 50-64 are in default on their student loans. According to data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Americans 50 and older … Continue reading I am 65 and stuck with student loan debt. What do I do?

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fraud, FYI, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Money and Finances, PREVNT, seniors

Data Shows Fraud Complaints on the Rise in Michigan

by Miles Morley, MiCAFE Community Partner Liaison The Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) has released their 2015 Data Book. CSN is a database of consumer identity theft and fraud complaints. The complaints are gathered from federal agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Internal Revenue Service, state law enforcement organizations, such as the Michigan Office of the Attorney General, and non-governmental … Continue reading Data Shows Fraud Complaints on the Rise in Michigan

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Health, Legal, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Planning for the Future, seniors

National Healthcare Decisions Day

by Kathryn Larlee, J.D., Hotline Attorney “There are only two things in life that are certain; death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin 1789. By a strange coincidence, National Healthcare Decisions Day fell on April 16th, right before tax day, today, April 18th. National Healthcare Decisions Day is a day dedicated to “having the conversation.” This conversation can be more difficult to initiate than getting started on … Continue reading National Healthcare Decisions Day

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Caregivers, FYI, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Money and Finances, Planning for the Future, senior independence

Steps To Take When Becoming A Caregiver

by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is the second in our series on caregivers. In our previous post, we provided questions to help you determine whether you are a caregiver. In this post, we will discuss the steps to take when becoming a caregiver and the resources that are available to help make caregiving manageable. The Legal Hotline receives several calls each week … Continue reading Steps To Take When Becoming A Caregiver

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FYI, Housing, Housing Rights Center of Michigan, Legal, Legal Hotline, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, senior independence, Uncategorized

“Get out of MY house”

by Ellen Mason, J.D., Hotline Attorney Your friend, Jane, has been living in your house with you. She hasn’t been paying rent and she didn’t sign a lease. Yesterday, you had a fight with her and now you want her out. Can you change the locks on your house or just toss her belongings out? No. Michigan law considers Jane a tenant even though she’s never … Continue reading “Get out of MY house”

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FYI, Legal, Legal Hotline, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Planning for the Future, seniors

Wills vs. Trusts – Part 8

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

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Grandmother with her caregiver granddaughter.
Caregivers, FYI, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Planning for the Future, senior independence, seniors

Caring for a Loved One – Five Questions to Determine if you are a Caregiver

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

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FYI, Legal, Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Money and Finances, Planning for the Future

Wills vs. Trusts – Part 5

by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is part of a series regarding wills and trusts. Previous posts in this series can be found here. In our previous posts, we discussed that a will always goes through probate. We also began talking about how a trust avoids probate. As we discussed previously, probate administration is the court process to distribute property owned by an individual … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts – Part 5

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