Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer |

26 May MARILYN MONROE’S ESTATE PLANNING MISTAKE – MOST GOES TO ACTRESS SHE MAY HAVE NEVER MET

Posted at 20:20h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, Divorce, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but actress Anna Strasberg (who some say Monroe never met or only met once) received much more than that from the legendary actress – even though that was probably not Monroe’s intention. Monroe, who died in 1962, left her...

20 Apr ARE PAYABLE ON DEATH ACCOUNTS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A WILL OR TRUST? 10 PROBLEMS WITH POD ACCOUNTS

Posted at 01:55h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Inheritance, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

Although Wills are often not difficult to probate in Texas, many times the probate process of determining that the Will is valid (so that the Executor can pay the debts of the estate of the deceased and transfer the assets in accordance with the Will)...

20 Apr ONLINE WILLS CAN FLATLINE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES

Posted at 01:47h in Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Short Term Care, Wills

Although not all online or store-bought Wills create legal problems, the following factual situation is an example of the potentially perilous path that an unwitting individual may traverse when doing their own Will. FACTS: Wife (hereinafter referred to as “Zsa Zsa”) has only a few months...

19 Mar SEVEN REASONS TO NAME A TRUST AS A BENEFICIARY OF A RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

Posted at 17:28h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Charitable Giving, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts

On Saturday, February 27, 2021, I was a guest on financial advisor Rick Foster’s radio show on 660 AM and he asked the question, “When should an IRA go into a trust?” As a result of this often-asked question, I decided to expand upon this...

19 Mar WILL HARRY & MEGHAN’S INTERVIEW CREATE A ROYAL MESS OF HER MAJESTY’S ESTATE PLAN – OR JUST A ROYAL PAIN?

Posted at 17:22h in Beneficiary, Charitable Giving, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts

Harry and Meghan’s recent explosive interview by Oprah Winfrey has sent shockwaves to the Royal family. Will this result in a different estate plan for Queen Elizabeth? Although Prince Charles and Prince William were probably already likely to receive a king-sized portion of Her Majesty’s...

24 Feb SUSPENDERS ON SUSPENSION – LARRY KING’S WILL LEAVES NOTHING TO ESTRANGED WIFE

Posted at 09:00h in Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Trusts, Wills

The handwritten Last Will and Testament of famed broadcaster, Larry King, omits his estranged wife, Shawn King (“Shawn”), and she is contesting. Larry King filed for divorce from Shawn (his seventh wife) in August 2019, and his new Will was handwritten on October 17, 2019....

15 Feb SUCCESS STORY OF THE MONTH – MAKING A SILK PURSE FROM A SOW’S EAR

Posted at 09:00h in Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Success Story of the Month, Transfer of Death

When someone fails to plan for his or her estate, it means that person is letting the state determine how and to whom assets should pass upon death of that individual. It may or may not be distributed the way the deceased wanted and the...

01 Feb WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY (USUALLY)

Posted at 09:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Notarizations, Probate Administration, Wills

How to probate a copy of a Will It is often necessary to transfer title of assets of the deceased or to pay any debts due by the deceased through the process (called probate) of getting approval of the court that the Will of the deceased...

26 Jan ‘TIL DEATH DO US PART, SURVIVING SPOUSE PROTECTIONS (EVEN IF DISINHERITED)

Posted at 05:23h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Taxes

Do you think that if you are married that your spouse automatically is entitled to all of your assets? Do you think that if you disinherit your spouse or perhaps your children in your Will that they automatically will not be entitled to any rights to your...

26 Jan SUCCESS STORY OF THE MONTH – IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE – UNLESS YOU APPLY FOR MEDICAID

Posted at 05:13h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Success Story of the Month

Facts: Potential Medicaid applicant for governmental assistance to help pay nursing home costs had limited amount of cash and monthly income and had given away money to a relative who spent the money gifted and could not give anything back. This success story is an illustration of how to...

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