by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is the third in a series regarding wills and trusts, part one can be found here and part two can be found here. In our previous post, we defined a will as a document that contains your instructions about how you want your assets (also known as your estate) distributed upon your death. A will allows you to determine who … Continue reading Wills vs.Trusts- Part 3
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is the second in a series regarding wills and trusts, part one can be found here. In our previous post, we defined a will as a document that contains your instructions about how you want your assets (also known as your estate) distributed upon your passing. A will allows you to determine who receives what share of your … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts – Part 2
by Rebecca Arnold, J.D., Hotline Attorney and Development Coordinator This week is National Nursing Home Week, a great time to recognize the important role nursing homes and long term care facilities play in caring for our aging loved ones. The idea of placing a loved one into a nursing home provokes a wide range of emotions for many of our clients. And, not surprisingly, nursing homes … Continue reading National Nursing Home Week
by Kimberly E. O’Leary, Professor Law & Director, Sixty Plus, Inc. Elderlaw Clinic, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School Many elder law attorneys encourage their clients to sign Durable Powers of Attorney, and my office does too. Having a DPOA can reduce the chances of an older adult having a guardianship imposed and thus, increase independence longer into life. Your chosen agent can help … Continue reading Making it Easy to Spot and Report Suspected Exploitation
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney The Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors receives many calls each week regarding estate planning documents. Clients often call with questions regarding wills and trusts and what are the differences between the two. Many clients have heard of these documents, yet they are confused as to what each document can do for them. Wills and trusts are estate planning documents … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts – Part 1
by Char Brooks, J.D., Project Healthy Living Coach “Dying is part of the human experience and part of the natural progression in life. We have the capacity to transform how we live and die in this culture.” – Ellen Goodman, co-founder of The Conversation Project. Despite the fact that I am an attorney and have also been a caregiver several times to family members, I find … Continue reading National Healthcare Decisions Day
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is part two of a series of blog posts examining Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Part one can be found here. In our last blog, we discussed what a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is and some questions that are frequently asked regarding it. As we discussed previously, a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is … Continue reading What is a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare? – Part Two
In honor of National Preparedness Month, we are going to cover steps to assemble and maintain an emergency kit. Emergency kits contain items that will assist in short-term survival of potential emergencies. Supplies to include in your emergency kit are: water, food, eating utensils, battery-powered or hand crank radio, flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, whistle to signal for help, dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape, … Continue reading Kickoff to National Preparedness Month
by Caitlin Zanin On May 9, 2014, Elder Law of Michigan held a free estate planning clinic at the East Glen Apartments in East Lansing with support from Ingham County TRIAD. Nine attorneys volunteered their time and talent to draft Wills, Durable Power of Attorney for Finances, and Designation of Patient Advocate forms for 16 low-income seniors. As a new intern for Elder Law of … Continue reading Estate Planning: Why is it Important?
