Joint ownership in layman’s terms is synonymous with co-ownership. If a property is owned by more than one individual, it is referred to as being held in joint tenancy. What is the Advantage of Joint Ownership as an Estate Planning Method? One of the major advantages of joint ownership of an asset is that it...

Most parents expect their children to inherit their assets if they unexpectedly pass away, but what happens if the child is a minor when mom or dad dies? Because the minor is not a legal adult and cannot inherit assets, a Connecticut probate judge will need to appoint a legal guardian who will be responsible...

One of the first questions that a senior is generally asked when they enter a hospital or long-term care facility is whether they have a living will in place that specifies their wishes for healthcare. If the senior does not have one but wants to make his or her wishes known, he or she will...

Dementia is one of the most devastating conditions affecting seniors, resulting in an eventual loss of cognitive functions. While there is no cure for dementia or the two leading diseases that cause dementia, Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, there are treatments that can slow the effects and help make life more manageable. In order for...

You’ve most likely seen articles and news segments about cryptocurrency. The most popular form is Bitcoin, but there are several others on the horizon. For the uninitiated, cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security, making it difficult to counterfeit. One of the main reasons why people and investors like cryptocurrencies...

When done properly, an estate plan affords peace of mind to those creating it and leaves behind a legacy for their descendants. But sometimes estate planning can go awry – and it’s usually due to eccentricities held by either the creators of the estate plan, the beneficiaries, or both. To give a good idea of...

Just about everyone knows or loves someone with a substance abuse problem. The detrimental effects impact many facets of American society. Sadly, we are seeing an upswing in the number of clients that have to deal with a loved one’s substance abuse in their estate planning. Most parents want to split their inheritance equally among...

As a Trumbull will and trust attorney, I often see the results of what happens when someone does not plan for the possibility of an unexpected disability. Most people come to our office ready to plan for their retirement or how they would like to see their estates managed after they have passed away. However,...

You may have heard about this story: doctors were faced with an ethical dilemma when they found the words “Do Not Resuscitate” tattooed on a man’s chest. The tattoo even included the man’s signature. The patient had no other documentation and was not accompanied by any family members who could help the doctors understand what...

For some families, bankruptcy is the only way out from living under a mountain of debt.  Filing for bankruptcy is a not a decision most people enter into lightly as the process can have a number of long-term and severe consequences. Once such consequence that tends to go overlooked is the possibility that a person...

As a Stratford will and estates attorney, I’m often asked, “How does a Healthcare Directive or Living Will work in Connecticut?” Essentially, an Advance Healthcare Directive, sometimes referred to as a Living Will in Connecticut, is a legal document that spells out your wishes for healthcare if you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to speak...

One of my greatest passions as a New Haven County estate planning lawyer is teaching parents how to wisely prepare for death. I realize the possibility of dying while your children are still young can be difficult to accept and that’s why many parents choose to not think about it. Unfortunately, this fear can prevent...

As a Trumbull trust lawyer, I’ve found that most people do not understand the serious privacy intrusions that their family can face if they die without a Living Trust. Here in Connecticut and across the country, if you pass away without a Living Trust, all of the details about your family’s inheritance and what you...

Raising a child with special needs is challenging. Sadly, the stress of the situation contributes to the high rate of divorce among couples who are raising children with special needs. In fact, it is estimated that the rate of divorce in these households are between 80% and 90%. If you are going through a divorce...

The answer to this question and so many other estate planning questions is, “Yes, but….”. It is true that if you own an asset jointly with rights of survivorship in Connecticut, the joint tenant will automatically retain ownership of the property when you pass away. The assets held in joint tenancy will avoid probate when...

As a Trumbull estate planning attorney, I know Millennials have a lot going on; they are starting their careers, buying their first homes, and starting their families. With so many “beginnings,” it’s hard to imagine finding time to stop and think about “the end.” A lot of people think that they are too young to …

A family home or vacation property is often the most valuable asset in an estate. While the homeowner may want to leave their cherished property to children or other beneficiaries as an inheritance, taxes can quickly thwart well-meant plans. The sad truth is that without proper planning, most heirs simply cannot afford the tax bills...

Serious health diagnoses can impact your life in huge ways and may bring concerns you haven’t thought of up to the forefront. One of those concerns, which is often pushed off when everything is going well, is estate planning and/or elder law planning.  Planning can give you the peace of mind of knowing that your...

As an estate planning attorney in Trumbull, I have seen many unfortunate circumstances where a person goes through the time and expense of having an estate plan created only to fail to update their beneficiaries on their financial or retirement accounts before they pass away. An example of this would be Mary naming her brother...

When it comes to asset protection planning for retirement and leaving legacies to your loved ones, there are several different trusts available that can help accomplish your goals. One type of trust called an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) ensures that the benefits of your life insurance policy are kept separate from your taxable estate....

If you are over 70 ½ years old, you can donate some or all of your IRA to an eligible special needs charity or non-profit of your choice. Using a Qualified Charitable Distribution, you can donate directly from your IRA to the charity. Not only is this a great way to support your favorite organizations...

The words Top 5 written in vintage letterpress type[/caption It’s no secret that the elderly are a favorite target of scam artists. Criminals will troll the internet and phone lists looking for seniors that are easy to prey upon due to an illness, disability, or cognitive impairment. Another reason scam artists...

In a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation, Congress recently passed a law that will expand benefits to individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans who have chronic illnesses. The Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act will cover certain supplies and services not previously covered such as telehealth services, at-home visits...

This may sound like a situation from a movie, but it happens more than you can imagine: a long-lost child appears after the death of their parent. This is an alarming situation for many reasons, but people often wonder if that child has a claim against the deceased’s estate. The answer is yes, but only...

If you are reading our blog, you have probably already decided that you want to create a living trust with a Trumbull will and trust lawyer to avoid probate and put a quick end to the estate administration process. You might also have decided that you want your estate and the decisions you made about...