Hassle Free Estate Planning in Madison County
Hassle Free Estate Planning
Everyone wants to avoid stress and confusion when they deal with estate planning matters. A capable and knowledgeable attorney can make estate planning as stress free as possible while also making sure your wishes are respected.
By approaching an estate planning attorney earlier rather than later, you can explore the best options for protecting your estate, lowering your taxes, and providing for your family. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you with establishing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills.
Following are other kinds of services offered by an estate planning law firm:
• Help with probate
• Creating property and health care powers of attorney
• Assisting executors
• Resolving gifting issues such as charitable contributions and gifting to children
• Revising wills
• Assistance in guardianships
• Elder law concerns
Is this for you?
Yes. Estate planning is something we know we need to do and repeatedly delay. For peace of mind, contact an attorney. If you are a senior citizen or a young parent with kids, today is the best time for you to approach an estate planning attorney to spell out a plan for your assets and finances in a fair manner for your loved ones.
Keeping an Eye on the Caregivers for the Elderly
Taking a proactive role in the care of your elderly parent, relative, or friend is advisable. By the time a senior citizen arrives at the point of needing assisted living or nursing home care, the individual is usually not capable of dealing with neglect or abuse. The person may be unable to even cope with daily needs.
Dementia or mental incapacity prevents elderly people from clearly perceiving an abusive situation or being able to communicate about it. Likewise, a physical condition that drains energy or the desire to talk makes patients vulnerable. Sometimes it is difficult to realize or cope with how vulnerable they are.
What can you do?
Be observant. Be proactive about communicating with caregivers. You do not have to be threatening, but let them know that you are observing their behavior and how they treat residents. Ask these questions about your loved one's care:
- How they are eating?
- What kind of foods do they eat?
- How much liquid do they drink in a day?
- How often do are they bathed?
- Are they losing or gaining weight?
- Do they receive assistance with walking?
- How often are they left unattended?
- Have caregivers noticed any changes in their behavior?
- How do they get along with other residents?
According to an April 2010 nursing home abuse article, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo used hidden cameras to convict 30 employees found guilty of nursing home abuse and negligence. Hidden cameras were placed in two New York state nursing homes with the families' consent.
CBS News reported an incident where a family installed a hidden camera and discovered that nurse's aides were throwing their mother-in-law into a chair instead of sitting her down softly and then were laughing about it. The nursing home fired the aides and settled a lawsuit for $2 million.
In another case reported by CBS, a nurse's aide was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail after being caught repeatedly hitting a paralyzed 99-year-old man. This case occurred in a private residence.
Technology has opened the door to new ways that families can keep an eye on caregivers. Cameras come disguised as alarm clocks, wall clocks, boom boxes, desk lamps, air fresheners, and other items.
If you discover abuse, consult an attorney about pursuing a nursing home settlement.
Remedies for Aggrieved Policyholders in Staten Island, NY
Everyone relies on some type of insurance every day. But if policyholders feel like they are not getting the benefit of that insurance policy, the policyholder can take action against the insurance company. The most common types of actions are breach of contract and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing.
Breach of Contract
An insurance company can be liable for breach of contract if it fails to do what it is written under the insurance policy or contract. Generally, insurance companies draft the policies in such a way that they have more authority than the insureds. As a result, insurance laws have evolved to favor insureds by providing that contractual ambiguities should be construed in favor of the insured and that exclusions from coverage should be construed narrowly.
Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
The insurance company has a duty to deal with their insureds fairly and in good faith. The insurance laws imply this duty in every contract. The core of a bad faith claim is whether the insurer acted reasonably. If it did not, many states allow juries to assess more extensive damages than in a standard breach of contract suit, including punitive damages.
The legal process to challenge an insurance company's actions can be complex. An attorney can guide you through the process and help you recover the damages to which you may be entitled. If you have an issue with your long-term disability insurance policy, elder law attorneys in Staten Island can help.
What are the Common Signs of Elder Abuse?
As a person increases in age, he or she may face both mental and physical deterioration. This can be very difficult for our loved ones and may require moving into a long-care facility or nursing home. Elderly people in our society should be respected and protected. It is the duty of every individual to respect senior citizens and protect their rights and dignity as they age.
Elder abuse is the negligence or abuse -- physical, emotional, or financial -- of our elders. Physical abuse or neglect commonly occurs in long-term care facilities which are understaffed or poorly run. In California, elder abuse is governed by the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act.
Signs of elder abuse
Some of the common signs of abuse or nursing home negligence are:
- Contusions, scratches and cuts
- Fracture of bones
- Burns
- Inexplicable removal from regular activities
- Depression
- Bed sores
- Inattention to hygiene or medical requirements
- Weight loss
- Stressed relationship with employees and caretakers
- Recurrent illness
- Extreme use of medications to manage behavior
If you feel that your loved one is facing abuse and needs assistance, an experienced attorney can help protect his or her rights according to elder abuse lawyers in Los Angeles. The attorney will take the necessary steps to restore your loved one's safety and dignity.