Many grandparents wish to leave a legacy behind for their grandchildren; however, they may run into some issues if those children are underage. A Milford Wills and Trusts attorney can help you determine what the best options are for leaving assets to underage beneficiaries, whether those assets are held in a Will or Trust, financial...

A previous post looked at some of the most common business entities that a Milford business planning lawyer will recommend for clients. From the simplicity of a sole proprietorship to the complexity of an S corporation, that piece shared some advantages and disadvantages of each entity when it comes to implementation, accountability, and taxation. With...

When making an estate plan and Last Will and Testament, many people have a difficult time deciding who should be the Executor of their estate. Oftentimes they will consider naming Co-Executors – two or more people who serve as executor of the estate. Each Co-Executor named in your Last Will and Testament will have authority...

The cost of assisted living facilities continue to rise for seniors and their families, leaving them struggling to make sure their loved ones are receiving the care they need and deserve. While it seems like sometimes there is just no relief from these rising costs, Milford elder law attorneys often advise their clients about tax...

Whenever there’s more than one adult child involved in the care of an elderly parent, the potential for disagreement exists. In most cases, siblings are able to put aside their differences and work together. But in a small number of cases—about 1 percent overall—family members have no interest in reaching accord. One adult child thinks...

Many people refer to our older years in life as the “Golden Years,” and in many ways they are because we have the time to do what we have always wanted to do. While this freedom and independence is wonderful, we must find ways to balance this with our safety. By taking some minor precautions,...

In general, Americans are very uncomfortable talking about end-of-life issues. It can be hard for people to think about (and plan for) their own death, let alone the death of their loved ones. I get it. Yet, by not discussing these issues, you are leaving your future caregivers (most often your adult children) in an...

It’s become more and more common now to see clients come in with probate cases that need to be dealt with in multiple states. Many seniors today are “snow birds,” meaning they spend their winters in states with warmer climates while keeping their actual residency in the state they’ve spent most of their lives in....

Estate planning lawyers in Milford are most often considered by folks who are wanting to put their end-of-life affairs in order. The attorney helps them to draw up important documents such as powers of attorney and medical directives, as well as to develop a plan for how an individual’s property will be distributed upon his...

I don’t always behave the way people expect me to. When I meet with new clients, most expect me to say that they should start putting together their estate plan right away. My response is always the same. “Tell me when you’re going to die or become incapacitated and we can work backwards from there,”...

Have you put off creating an estate plan because you believe that you have to make provisions for everything that could possibly happen between now and the end of your life? Have you been procrastinating because you think an estate plan is a document you create just once? If either of these statements sounds familiar,...

Should you involve your children in the estate planning process? If so, how much do you tell them? When do you tell them? Is it possible to tell them too much too soon? What happens if you tell them too little too late? In my decades of work with families, I’ve found that there’s a...

It’s the middle of February, and we find ourselves in the midst of yet another cold Connecticut winter! Although the season is very festive, and nothing is more beautiful than the look of a pristine snow cover, the winter months can be a challenge for seniors. As we get older, this challenge becomes particularly difficult,...

As our parents age, we often find that the parent/child roles reverse as aging, long-term illness and disability increase their dependence on us, their children. When do the children have to start acting as parents? And what happens if we fail to do so? It’s a common quandary for adult children. It’s hard to watch...

Modern medicine has progressed so rapidly that people are living to much older ages than ever before. Although this is a blessing, allowing people to have more time with their loved ones – it also leads to issues which were not as prevalent years ago. One of these is dementia, which increases in incidence with...

As our loved ones get older, it often becomes very difficult for them to stay at home safely. There are many different options of where they can live, but even after finding the right facility, we want to make sure their transition into it is smooth and they get the most out of their stay...

As our loved ones grow older, it is an increasing concern of how to balance their independence with their safety. This concern is often increased with the loss of a spouse, and it may become very difficult to keep our loved ones in their own home while still maintaining their safety. There are many choices...

An unexpectedly common problem that Milford estate planning lawyers encounter is how the proceeds of an estate are handled when the beneficiary gets divorced. We don’t want to think of our children dealing with the pain of a divorce, but losing the inheritance you left behind would certainly pour salt in the wound. That’s why...

The Supreme Court’s landmark decision regarding same-sex marriage brings with it many issues that are probably best discussed with a good marriage and estate lawyer in Milford. Because of the previous inability to legally marry, many of those now looking to walk down the aisle are considerably older than typical newlyweds. This leads to additional...

One of the most complex aspects of a Connecticut Wills and Trust lawyer’s job is making sure that a Trust is properly funded. While the attorney will be able to do much of the work on behalf of the client, there are a number of documents that are needed in order to transfer assets into...

Inheriting an IRA can be a financial blessing but you have to be extremely careful about withdrawing the funds. There are a number of mistakes you can make that can result in a missed opportunity for tax-deferred growth, or worse, a huge tax bill. Luckily, surviving spouses have some leeway. It’s still tricky to transfer...

As you work with a Trust attorney in Milford, you will likely end up making a list of your assets. Some of these are tangible, such as property and heirloom jewelry. Others are not so obvious and could include important documents related to marital status or military service. Each of these items is an important...

The short answer is: it depends. This is a question we get a lot, and one we typically discuss at length with non-married parents during our planning sessions.  When one of the parties of a divorce decree dies, this will end the custody agreement because there’s no longer anything to govern. In most cases, custody...

When setting up an estate plan, most people are concerned with what will happen to their belongings: money, jewelry, house, etc. But little thought is ever given to what will happen to their debts when they pass away, notably their mortgage. For years, many people expected to pay off their mortgage long before they died,...

Let’s start off by saying that not all conservatorships are bad. Conservatorships play a vital role in Milford by giving caretakers the means to make financial (Conservator of the Estate) and health (Conservator of the Person) related decisions for those who are no longer able and have no one else to speak for them. Unfortunately,...