Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer |

26 May CHARLES MANSON’S “GRANDSON” NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE DNA TEST IN HELTER SKELTER PROBATE BATTLE

Posted at 22:05h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

A California appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling requiring the DNA test of Jason Freeman (who has alleged to be the only living descendant and heir of notorious “Helter Skelter” murderer Charles Manson) to determine if he is in fact a blood descendant...

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)...

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...

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...

02 Nov COMPREHENSIVE TO DO CHECKLIST AFTER LOVED ONE DIES (36 ITEMS TO CONSIDER)

Posted at 09:00h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, Charitable Giving, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Veterans, Wills

While the loss of a loved one may be emotionally devastating, the tasks to accomplish after one dies could be overwhelming. As a result, we have compiled a checklist of some of the important things to consider in a somewhat chronological order as follows: Get a...

09 Sep POST-DIVORCE ESTATE PLANNING: 6 COMMON QUESTIONS

Posted at 15:50h in Alzheimer’s, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Divorce, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Success Story of the Month, Trusts, Wills

Divorces are often draining – financially and emotionally. As a result, many do not want to incur more costs or even think about different financial arrangements. However, anytime there is a significant change in your family (death, divorce, disability, births, etc.), your estate plan should be at...

17 Aug SUCCESS STORY OF THE MONTH

Posted at 20:24h in Alzheimer’s, Asset Protection, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Success Story of the Month, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

Husband and wife (“clients”) have 2 adult children. Once child is disabled and the other is a spendthrift (money is spent as soon as it is received). The disabled child is on Medicaid and lives in a facility where the drug costs and the great majority of...

29 Jul LADYBIRD DEEDS – 10 SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS BEST THAT A TRUST RECEIVE PROPERTY INSTEAD OF AN INDIVIDUAL

Posted at 19:55h in Asset Protection, Assisted Living, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Home Equity, Inheritance, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death

Ladybird Deeds and Transfer on Death Deeds are used to avoid probate (which is the legal process whereby the court determines if a will is valid and assets are distributed according to the will). These types of deeds are particularly useful to avoid Medicaid Estate Recovery. If...

21 Jan SEVEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUSTS USED IN PUBLIC BENEFITS PLANNING

Posted at 19:54h in Asset Protection, Assisted Living, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home, Public Benefits Protection, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Veterans

Public benefits can range from payment of expensive drugs (no matter what age) to long-term care costs such as skilled nursing care. There are 40-50 Medicaid programs in Texas in addition to strictly federal public benefits programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security...

15 Sep CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION TO RECEIVE BILLIONS FROM BARRON HILTON’S ESTATE − WOULD PARIS HILTON HAVE STAYED AT THE VERY FIRST HOTEL NAMED HILTON ─ WHICH WAS IN DALLAS?

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Inheritance, Taxes

Barron Hilton, who helped make the name “Hilton” synonymous with hotels and one of the hotel industry’s leading brand names, has left the bulk (97%) of his estate worth billions to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation established for his father Conrad...

Inheritance