Dallas Elder Law Attorney

Information Reporting Requirements Under the Corporate Transparency Act are discussed.

Differences between a Ladybird deed and a Transfer on Death Deed are discussed.

Relationships change. Health changes. Money changes. Laws change. Some of the items to consider are discussed.

New numbers for: (1) how much can be passed at death with estate taxation; (2) How much can be given annually per person without reporting to the IRS, (3) how much can be to a charity from an IRA to a charity without income taxation and (4) income tax brackets are discussed.

Richard Simmons' brother and his housekeeper are fighting over who can control the trust estate of the late weight loss guru.

Sometimes it is better to have a Will or sometimes it is better to have a Revocable Living Trust. The decision tree chart generally discusses situations when it is better to have one or the other (other factors are sometimes considered).

A special needs trust trustee has many roles as a trustee/fiduciary ranging from how to distribute funds to investing and filing tax returns. The various roles are discussed.

When is a bank liable for making payment to the "wrong heir"? A bank is not liable for following a court order or determining if the order was obtained by forgery or fraud of an applicant.

Eligibility for long-term care Medicaid which helps pay for some or all of the cost of care of the institutionalized spouse, is often determined by the amount of income and countable resources of the couple. This explains how this can be achieved.

Similar to tax laws which require planning pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, planning is often required to maximize asset preservation of resources should a loved one needs long-term care for governmental assistance. This story shows an example of how issues are spotted and what can be done within the rules.

Some might think there is only one type of power of attorney or that all powers of attorney cover the same powers, effective date, etc. This podcast describes the difference between various powers of attorney.

Knowledge of the rules is important when completing an application for governmental assistance in paying for long-term care (i.e. nursing home and drug costs). Common mistakes (and how to avoid them) are discussed.

The determined efforts of a niece resulted in locating her uncle who had been abducted 73 years ago. Inheritance rights to and from him are discussed if he were a Texas resident.

This discusses some of the pros and cons of beneficiary designations (i.e. naming an individual as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, bank account, etc.)

Who is in charge of your body after death (funeral, burial, and removal of the deceased's remains subsequently) depends on your planning or state law. Casey Kasem's widow has that right (to the displeasure of his children) until she dies. However, after death, his children may have rights.

Estate planning is affected by divorce. This podcast describes how Shannen Doherty's family (instead of the husband she divorced on the date of her death) benefited from her divorce.

There are 109 Medicaid programs in Texas, each has its own rules for eligibility, including income limitations. This podcast describes the income limit on certain Medicaid programs that elderly or disabled commonly seek.

Rupert Murdoch is attempting to modify his irrevocable trust by court which affects his succession planning. This podcast describes what is needed to modify an irrevocable trust.

The definition of "home" is different under Medicaid and VA rules. Eligibility is often dependent on the definition.

Upstream planning to avoid capital gains taxes on giving of appreciated assets from child to parent is sometimes used, but one must be careful and should be used in limited situations as there are risks.