What is a Lady Bird Deed?
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What is a Lady Bird Deed?

Estate Planning

What is a Lady Bird Deed?

In estate planning, there are many legal tools available to protect and manage assets. One particular tool is the Lady Bird deed. The Lady Bird deed, also known as an enhanced life estate deed, is an important legal document that provides specific benefits in estate planning. The Lady Bird deed is a specialized type of life estate deed that allows the owner of a property to retain control over it while they're alive but automatically transfer the property to a pre-determined beneficiary upon death without going through probate. What sets it apart from a traditional life estate deed is the [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:06:35-05:00September 14, 2023|

The Importance of Healthcare Planning Documents
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The Importance of Healthcare Planning Documents

Estate Planning

The Importance of Healthcare Planning Documents

Healthcare is an essential part of our lives, and sometimes our loved ones may require medical treatment or healthcare at a time when they are unable to communicate their wishes. Whether because of cognitive impairment, unconsciousness, or mental healthcare needs, proper legal planning and healthcare planning documents are helpful. With regard to medical decision-making, various documents exist to allow individuals to appoint another to make healthcare decisions in advance and to ensure their wishes are known (and followed) when they are unable to communicate those wishes. Healthcare planning documents, such as Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives, are [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T11:08:35-05:00April 3, 2023|

Frequently Asked Questions about Powers of Attorney
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Frequently Asked Questions about Powers of Attorney

Estate Planning

Frequently Asked Questions about Powers of Attorney

In this comprehensive overview, we answer the questions you may be asking about powers of attorney, living wills, and attorneys-in-fact to give you a well-rounded understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and processes that follow. How to Use This Information This article is organized into seven parts: (1) About the Power of Attorney; (2) Powers and Duties of an Attorney-in-Fact; (3) Using the Power of Attorney; (4) Financial Management and Liability of an Attorney-in-Fact; (5) Relationship of the Power of Attorney to Other Legal Devices; (6) Health Care and the Power of Attorney; and (7) Guardians and Powers of Attorney. 1. [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-05-07T11:54:40-04:00March 28, 2023|

The Value of Planning Before a Senior Healthcare Crisis
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The Value of Planning Before a Senior Healthcare Crisis

Aging, Estate Planning

The Value of Planning Before a Senior Healthcare Crisis

Recently, Tina Kane, one of our elder care coordinators, and I were invited to speak on the Givnish Spotlight hour on WWDB 860 AM. The show is led by representatives of the Life Celebrations family of funeral homes, a group that advocates for preneed burial and funeral planning. The reason for our invitation to join a few weeks ago was to discuss the value of planning as we age. Simple in concept, complex in execution. If there's a list of things we dislike or avoid talking about, I imagine death and dying would be near the top. Not far [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T11:11:49-05:00February 3, 2023|

Living Will and Dignified Aging: Have the Conversation
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Living Will and Dignified Aging: Have the Conversation

Estate Planning

Living Will and Dignified Aging: Have the Conversation

As loved ones age, having the discussion on dignified aging and a living will can be challenging and emotional for families. Considering that spring is arriving and it appears the world may be opening up a bit more (hopefully), families will start reconnecting, spending quality time together, and planning vacations. Since the start of the pandemic, many families forewent these gatherings in an effort to avoid unnecessarily exposing themselves or loved ones to COVID-19. However, since late 2021 and increasingly so, families are spending more time together. Considering how long it’s been since these families have sat together, this may [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T11:32:24-05:00March 11, 2022|

The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained
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The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained

Estate Planning

The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained

Who knew that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of only twenty United States jurisdictions which collect a state death tax? For the Pennsylvania resident decedent, regardless of whether the beneficiaries live in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware Counties, or beyond the borders of the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Inheritance tax will likely impact any inheritance. In this blog, The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained, we answer eight of the most commonly asked questions. 1. I already filed the decedent’s taxes on April 15th. Why do I need to file a Pennsylvania REV-1500? Comparing income taxes to state death taxes is like [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:42:36-05:00September 30, 2016|