Inflation affects all consumers, but older Americans are facing an especially dramatic loss of buying power. A recent survey by the Senior Citizens League shows that Social Security benefits have seen a 36 percent loss in buying power since 2000. That number is actually an improvement from 2022, when the loss of buying power was …
Continue reading “Social Security Check Not Keeping Up With Inflation”
In a letter to a debtor intended to prompt payment of $250 in debts, a collection agency’s choice of words entangled it in protracted litigation under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The theme of the dunning letter was honesty, or the lack thereof, on the debtor’s part. In all capital letters, the …
I heard today on the radio that people who are perpetually late live longer. If that is the case, I’m going to live a long time. In fact, in study done in 2000 said there was a 75% probability for men living to the age of 78, 50% probability of living to 85 and a …
The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a smile during this holiday season. Any readers with a legal problem should lighten up this week, life is precious, so enjoy your family and friends now and join the real world after January 1,, 2025. It is time again …
Continue reading “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, LEGALLY SPEAKING”
The information in this column is not intended as political opinion or promotion but to provide an incentive to VOTE. Well, here we are in the middle of what may be the greatest voter turnout in history. It is exciting to see. For the next 2 weeks you can early vote in the 2020 election …
You need an estate plan. This is true even if you don’t have a lot of assets. It’s also true if you’re young, or if you don’t have close family members. Estate planning means preparing for the inevitabilities of life. People get sick or hurt, and you need a plan in place to determine what …
Continue reading “Steps to Help Get Started on Estate Planning”
The wisdom of making a Will is well settled as sound legal advice, and rightly so. Less talked about, but equally advisable for many people, is the use of gifts during one’s lifetime as a method for estate planning. Apart from the intangible benefits that flow from the fact that, as the saying goes, it …
A parent generally feels as though they are losing control of their teenage child. But when he/she turns 18, then the state considers your child to be an adult with the legal right to govern his or her own life. Yikes! Becoming independent is all part of growing up. However, most parents are still footing …
Both unmarried opposite-sex partners and same-sex partners will want to provide protection for their relationship and for the other partner in the event one partner becomes incapacitated. Legally married or not, due to the controversial nature of these relationships, these partners will need to create legal documents which allow the non-disabled partner to care for and manage the disabled partner’s affairs. Unfortunately, many families are not ready to accept these lifestyles and the potential for conflict exists.
