Legal

All parents caring for disabled children are advised to write down what any successor caregiver would need to know about the child and what the parent’s wishes are for his or her care. This is important whether the child be in a group home, live with a parent, or be on his or her own. The parent knows best, but needs to pass on important information about medical issues, medication, diet, a “day in the life,” housing, outside activities, faith, personal values, finances, expenses, and more. A copy of the memo or letter can be kept in the attorney’s files with the parents’ estate plan. ...

In our weekly Pandemic Positivity posts, we're spotlighting local organizations that are helping us manage life during the COVID-19 crisis. One of the best resources is the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Their latest newsletter has advice for those having a tough time making mortgage or rent payments. ...

Is having an out-of-date will better than having no will at all? Not really. Where there's a will there's not always a way to ensure your money and possessions will go to those you had hoped would benefit. ...

A prenuptial agreement can be used in a second marriage when both parties have children. For example, suppose you get remarried and both you and your spouse have children from a prior marriage. You want your house to pass to your children, but without proper planning and an agreement in place, your spouse could inherit the house and then pass the house to her children when she dies. ...

You may be surprised to learn that you can access over a dozen Social Security functions, even when you're traveling far from home. The online services page provides you with a wide variety of self-service options you can use on your phone, tablet or computer. ...

A letter of instruction is a legally non-binding document that gives your heirs information crucial to helping them tie up your affairs. Without such a letter, it can be easy for heirs to miss important items or become overwhelmed trying to sort through all the documents you left behind. ...

Everyone should have a durable financial Power of Attorney, durable health care Power of Attorney and a Living Will Declaration. Consider whether you want your new spouse to have the authority to deal with your financial affairs or if you plan to keep your finances separate from your spouse’s. A prenuptial agreement may dictate how that is handled. Consider whether you would rather have your children making medical decisions for you. This may include end-of-life choices, so be careful who you choose. ...