Blog

18 Aug SON OF AUSTIN POWERS CO-STAR SHAGGED BY COURT

Posted at 23:21h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Lawsuits, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Trusts, Wills

SON OF AUSTIN POWERS CO-STAR SHAGGED BY COURTA California Appellate Court has reversed the Los Angeles Superior Court decision over the meaning of the term “grandchild” costing Damian Hurley, son of famed British actress Elizabeth Hurley and Steve Bing (although born out of wedlock), the sum of approximately $250 Million. The...

27 Jul We’re hiring a Client Services Coordinator

Posted at 13:07h in Business, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney

The Legal Client Services Coordinator will consistently and accurately support an elder law/estate planning attorney as well as others to become more efficient, systematic and effective. We’re an elder law/estate planning law firm with the vision of helping others to protect their families and resources. The...

12 Jul FOUR WAYS TO PROTECT A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST BENEFICIARY FROM WRONGFUL ACTS OF A FAMILY MEMBER TRUSTEE

Posted at 19:26h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

It is very common for a family member to be named to serve as a trustee of a special needs trust of a loved one with special needs (usually to save money), but the recent felony charges for financial exploitation against a Minnesota mother who...

12 Jul 529 PLANS VS. UTMA: PROS & CONS

Posted at 19:14h in 529 plan, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Taxes, utma

It is not unusual for parents and grandparents (as well as others) to want to help plan for payment of school and other expenses of a beneficiary who is a minor. A UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) account is a custodial account usually established...

12 Jul BRITNEY SPEARS TO COURT: “BABY, ONE MORE TIME”? CLAIMS CONSERVATORSHIP “TOXIC”

Posted at 19:01h in Business, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Lawsuits, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration

The continuing 13-year-old conservatorship saga of Britney Spears to free her of having her father run her personal and professional life has put financial and civil rights abuse in guardianship and conservatorship (California conservatorship is similar to guardianship in Texas) in the national spotlight. After...

12 Jul PRIDE AND PREJUDICE? DID CHARLEY PRIDE’S WILL TREAT HIS SECRET SON UNFAIRLY? SIX STEPS TO REDUCE RISK OF A DISGRUNTLED BENEFICIARY

Posted at 18:49h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

It was recently reported in the Dallas Morning News that Tyler Pride (“Tyler”)”, who is the biological son of famed country-western singer Charley Pride (“Charley”), has contested the Last Will and Testament of his father. Tyler was not born of Charley’s long-time marriage to Rozene...

17 Jun ALZHEIMER’S DRUG APPROVAL BRINGS HOPE

Posted at 16:25h in Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

The FDA has recently approved the medication Aducanumab (which is to be given by infusion every four weeks) that studies have shown to slow the decline of cognitive and functional ability of patients (particularly if in the early stages after a diagnosis or those with...

17 Jun FIVE TIPS ON DISINHERITING A CHILD OR REDUCING RISK OF SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE TO YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Posted at 16:15h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

There are various reasons why a parent would disinherit an adult child ranging from failure to communicate for a period of time to verbal disagreements. Under Texas law, there is no legal requirement to name a family member as a beneficiary. The following are suggestions to...

17 Jun SOLE BENEFITS TRUSTS COULD HELP NURSING HOME MEDICAID APPLICANT AND DISABLED BENEFICIARY

Posted at 16:10h in Assisted Living, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts

Sole benefits trusts are an exception to the transfer penalty rules for long-term care (i.e., nursing home, some assisted living facilities, etc.) Medicaid. Since most Americans have inadequate or no long-term care insurance and Medicare generally has very limited coverage for skilled care, many seek...

17 Jun CHEAP POWER OF ATTORNEY COSTS FAMILY THOUSANDS OF $

Posted at 16:07h in Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death

A Pennsylvania appeals court has recently upheld a lower court ruling giving the agent the authority to act under a boilerplate power of attorney form even though the terms of the document were not followed. However, the cheap form and the failure of the agent...