Financial

HELENA – The latest scam against seniors is selling fake Medicare prescription cards to seniors under the new Federal Medicare Prescription Plan. Confusion surrounding the new and complex Medicare prescription drug benefit makes the elderly susceptible to scams popping up elsewhere, Montana state health officials warned Monday. Scam artists have been selling fake Medicare discount cards to seniors in Idaho… Continue reading Medicare Prescription Card Fraud Takes a New Twist

The Death Tax Not Gone  The death tax? Sounds funny, but it’s anything but.  There are still a great number of questions about estate taxes.  Unfortunately, many people believe the sound bites that have pronounced the death of the death tax.  These have been greatly exaggerated, to say the least.  Many people have the mistaken impression that the federal… Continue reading Is The Death Tax Gone?

Settling Legal Wills The last will and testament will not settle over night.  Beneficiaries often find themselves at odds over the disbursement of property after the death of a decedent.  Sometimes it’s over the property or the value of the property itself.  Sometimes it’s just that fact that it cannot happen immediately.  Most beneficiaries think that once the… Continue reading Last Will & Testament 101

Terminating your rights under a will for the better statutory provisions Why would you renounce a will?  If there is a Will, the surviving spouse can renounce it and the inheritance it contains (if any), and instead elect to take a share of the estate specifically provided by state law.  This is a legal device originally intended for… Continue reading Renouncing a Will

When a person has a “life estate” in a piece of property (most commonly, a house and the contents within it), he/she enjoys almost the same rights in that property as would an “absolute” owner – but only for his/her life.  The idea of a life estate is best illustrated with a typical example, the “subsequent marriage”… Continue reading The Basics of a Life Estate

Last will and testament and legal considerations  How does a will and the law treat an estate when both people die at the same time?  The answer, of course, depends on whether any planning has been done. The most important planning, however, is practical, not legal. First, have you found a capable and willing guardian… Continue reading How Does a Last Will and Testament Treat Simultaneous Death

Much time has been spent talking about retirement planning but most of it has to to with the financial aspects of it.  Financial planning however, is only one part of planning for retirement – how you afford it.  The rest of retirement planning has more to how you run your life and your relationships.  The… Continue reading 10 (non-financial) Keys to Retirement Planning

Editor’s Note:  Financial security is basically what we work our whole lives to accomplish.  Financial security is something that few young adults are concerned about.  Retirement seems a lifetime away. But as we grow older, being financially secure becomes more important.  We worry about it, wonder how we will live in retirement, and base many… Continue reading Financial Security

An introduction to durable power of attorneys A durable power of attorney (or POA) is arguably the most powerful instrument that you can create and is especially important in estate planning.  A POA is a relatively insignificant and informal document that allows another individual to legally act on your behalf.  A POA can be as powerful or long-lasting… Continue reading Durable Power of Attorney

Finding The Right Attorney Picking the right attorney is critical Making sure that you have the right professional for the job at hand is the first and one of the most important tasks that you have in getting any job done right.   When it comes to the legal profession, there’s no difference.  Finding the right attorney… Continue reading Elder Law & Legal Basics