Blog

21 Jul ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IMPACT ON NURSING HOMES

Posted at 13:23h in Elder Justice, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid, Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home

Although the One Big Beautiful Bill signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025, may not directly impact nursing homes, such skilled nursing facilities are likely to feel the pinch. Medicaid is a joint program between the federal and state governments. Most nursing homes in...

14 Jul IS JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESTATE “WASTING AWAY IN MARGARITAVILLE” DUE TO CO-TRUSTEES SUING EACH OTHER

Posted at 13:12h in Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts

Jimmy Buffett’s widow and co-trustee of his trust, Jane Slagsvol, and his longtime financial advisor, accountant, and co-trustee of his trust, Richard Mozenter, have filed suits to remove each other as a trustee. The trust estate is worth an estimated $275 million dollars (which includes...

07 Jul FREQUENT FLYER MILES OFTEN CRASH AFTER DEATH

Posted at 13:01h in Digital Assets, Estate Planning, Inheritance

Many accumulate frequent flyer miles or loyalty rewards for traveling with airlines. However, most of the larger commercial airlines do not permit mileage or points to transfer upon the death of the person who accumulated the mileage or points (the “member”). The policies of each...

01 Jul BRIAN WILSON’S ESTATE PLANNING ERRONEOUSLY GAVE HIM “GOOD VIBRATIONS”

Posted at 12:41h in Estate Planning, Guardianship, Power of Attorney, Wills

The estate planning of Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder and primary songwriter of the Beach Boys, was a mixed bag. Wilson, whose death was announced on June 11, 2025, had a revocable living trust, which was likely beneficial in numerous ways, ranging from probate avoidance...

26 Jun NEITHER PRINCE WILLIAM nor HARRY WILL INHERIT PRINCESS DIANA’S CHILDHOOD HOME

Posted at 15:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Last Will and Testament

The Althorp Estate, Princess Diana’s childhood home and final resting place, will likely be inherited by her nephew Louis Spencer, instead of her children, Prince Harry and Prince William. The family estate has been owned by the Spencer family since 1508, and it is presently run...

23 Jun OPTIONS IN HANDLING A DECEASED FAMILY MEMBER’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

Posted at 14:53h in Deceased Privacy Protection, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Power of Attorney, Wills

Have you ever been notified of a friend’s birthday even after their death? Sometimes family members (parent, sibling, child, spouse) or executors fail to notify Facebook of the account holder’s death. Instead of doing nothing, there are 2 options: (1) deletion of the account or...

16 Jun FATHER ATTEMPTS TOTAL PICK OF “AMERICAN PICKERS” STAR’S ESTATE BY WILL CHALLENGE

Posted at 14:46h in Estate Planning, Guardianship, Last Will and Testament, Wills

The last will and testament of Frank Fritz (who was a star on the popular television show “American Pickers” on the History Channel) has been challenged by his father, Bill Fritz, due to lack of capacity. Frank was a co-host on the show (where he and...

09 Jun CELEBRITY CASE UPDATE: ELIZABETH HURLEY’S SON LOSES MILLIONS FROM TRUST DUE TO BEING ILLEGITIMATE

Posted at 14:39h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Trusts

A California appeals court has ruled that neither Damian Hurley (whose mother is famous actress, Elizabeth Hurley) nor Kira Bonder, the illegitimate children of the late Stephen Bing, could receive hundreds of millions of trust funds from their paternal grandfather, Dr. Peter Bing, since they...

02 Jun 6 WAYS TO PROTECT THE EQUITY VALUE OF A HOMESTEAD FOR LONG-TERM CARE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY

Posted at 13:58h in Assisted Living, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer

Although there is unlimited equity limit of a homestead to be excluded as a countable resource if the applicant for long term-care Medicaid is married and the non-applicant spouse lives in the community (the community spouse), there is a $730,000 equity limit in 2025 if...

23 May POPE FRANCIS’ LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT COMPARED TO THE 3 POPES BEFORE HIM

Posted at 10:37h in Charitable Giving, Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Wills

Unlike the last will and testament that one might consider in the United States, the last will and testament of Pope Francis focused on where he should be buried (Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome) where he had prayed often. His will stated “I...

20 May BILL TO GIVE EVERY AMERICAN BABY $1000 IN EMBRYONIC STAGE

Posted at 10:24h in Estate Planning, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Taxes

Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill called the “Invest America Act” which would establish a “Trump account” with $1000 for children born after July 4, 2026, who are U.S. citizen with at least one parent who is a U.S. citizens at the time of...

14 May THE SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT IS FAIR TO SOME – BUT NOT TO OTHERS

Posted at 15:50h in Miller Trust, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Social Security

Many teachers, firefighters, police officers and people who received a pension due to work not covered by Social Security may receive (or have received) a Social Security benefit increase pursuant to Social Security Fairness Act signed by former President Biden on January 5, 2025 which...

08 May JUDGE RULES HUMAN EMBRYOS ARE NOT FROZEN ASSETS – THE PRICE OF EGGS KEEPS GOING UP

Posted at 15:43h in Lawsuits

A Virginia judge has ruled that human embryos are not chattel goods, or personal property subject to division. Jason and Honeyhline Heidemann were a married couple who began in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 2015. At that time, they entered into an agreement on embryo ownership...

05 May 5 REQUIRED GOVERNMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROVISIONS IN ADDITION TO PROBATE

Posted at 14:52h in Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Miller Trust, Public Benefits Protection

There are numerous Medicaid programs that require a pay-back of governmental benefits advanced after the death of the Medicaid recipient. This is most common is if the will of the deceased is probated or under the laws of intestacy (when the Medicaid recipient doesn’t have...

28 Apr IS A HOUSEBOAT A HOME? lAWS ADRIFT – WILL PROTECTION SINK?

Posted at 18:22h in Asset Protection, Bankruptcy, Medicaid Planning, Property Taxes, Taxes, Wills

Laws vary on whether a houseboat is a home, if it is protected from creditors or if there can even be any tax benefits. Medicaid, bankruptcy and the Internal Revenue Code all address treatment of houseboats. MEDICAID TREATMENT OF HOUSEBOATS AS HOME: Under long-term care Medicaid...

22 Apr HOW TO STOP UNSAFE SENIORS FROM DRIVING

Posted at 18:04h in Dementia, Guardianship, Katie’s Law, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Seniors safety

It is often difficult to determine when it is unsafe for someone to drive. This is particularly troublesome for many seniors who fear loss of independence when their driving privileges are lost. This may result in loneliness in addition to no longer being able to...

15 Apr GENE HACKMAN’S ESTATE – WILL HIS CHILDREN BE “UNFORGIVEN”?

Posted at 16:24h in Alzheimer’s, Estate Planning, Special Needs Trust, Trusts, Wills

Oscar winning movie star, Gene Hackman, died on February 18, 2025, about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The couple lived in New Mexico, a community property state. They wed in 1991. Hackman had a large estate estimated to be around eighty million dollar...

02 Apr CELEBRITY ESTATE PLANNING COURT DECISION UPDATES FROM “GAME OF THRONES” TO “GRACE FOR GRACELAND”

Posted at 21:32h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Guardianship

For the past several years, we have reported on many ongoing court cases concerning celebrities of their estate planning or court cases contesting their planning. The following are a few of the updates since our previous articles: RUPERT MURDOCH -Murdoch failed in his attempt to...

24 Mar Homestead Protection Under Texas and Federal Laws

Posted at 12:20h in Estate Planning

The most valuable asset that many own is their home. However, sometimes creditors sue to collect debts such as credit card bills, medical bills, personal loans, etc. Bankruptcy can protect your homestead from unsecured creditors – especially if you choose a Texas bankruptcy exemption. Although...

21 Mar Government Assistance for Care Could Depend on Homestead Definition- Homestead Resource Exclusion Differences Between Medicaid and Veteran’s Benefits

Posted at 12:03h in Medicaid Planning, Veterans

Public benefits (such as long-term care Medicaid and non-service-connected disability benefits for wartime veterans or his or her surviving spouse) are “means-tested”. In other words, the government looks at your resources when you apply to determine if you are eligible for the government to help...

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