tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90381213475361076862024-03-13T02:28:32.659-04:00Florida Elder Law and Estate PlanningFlorida Certified Elder Law Attorney offers insights and news to help Florida residents protect themselves and preserve assetsJoseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.comBlogger715125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-83809011935885506212020-05-20T23:02:00.002-04:002020-05-21T11:30:15.919-04:00How Would You Feel About Being Put On A Ventilator?<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you contract COVID 19 and are hospitalized, what kinds of interventions do you want? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to a May 12, 2020 report from Kaiser Health News, one thing many older people definitely DON'T want is to be placed on a ventilator. To make sure their wishes are honored, they are revising their <b><a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/types-of-advance-directives" target="_blank">health care advance directives</a></b> to reflect that preference, and making sure their designated health care surrogates are aware of it. While the
pandemic has made people of all ages keenly aware of the need for health care documents, older people tend to feel a greater sense of urgency. They are more susceptible to infection, and more likely to experience severe symptoms and succumb.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When placed on mechanical ventilation, a tube is placed down the patient's throat (intubation). The patient is kept sedated and isolated in the ICU. No visitors are permitted. By now we've all heard first-hand accounts of patients who had this experience. They are thankful to be alive, but traumatized by the days or weeks they spent intubated. Moreover, for an older person, intubation is less likely to save life. "Their prognosis is not great," says Dr. Douglas White, a professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, older people generally spend more time on ventilators than younger ones, and if they survive, face a more grueling battle back to functionality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously, none of that precludes you from desiring and receiving mechanical ventilation. Each of us must assess what procedures are worth enduring for the chance to survive.</span></span></div>
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<big><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to address your desires for intubation in your health care advance directives - because you wish to rule it out, or rule it in - contact us and we can assist you. Reach us at (561) 625-1100 or email <a href="mailto:KLF@karplaw.com">KLF@karplaw.com</a>. </span></big></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-47152475575553079102020-05-06T14:02:00.000-04:002020-05-06T14:02:04.989-04:00We are working at home for you. Stop by and visit!<br />
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Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-45812804623441505592020-04-28T18:28:00.000-04:002020-04-29T23:05:08.889-04:00Find Missing Money<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9XOFeOB3oDv_BGi1eYSdkb9PJnJ-4FsXHwVJ6azMi1vbRasKYnvz2Dq3McnJ7mGJq3XQlpqCHNSVZea6XUq1HFNUJgrGlKlaZlwKt-d-b-0NCFDBDNGbFSApoxT1JWr0sZ1T7480stA/s1600/treasure-chest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="428" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9XOFeOB3oDv_BGi1eYSdkb9PJnJ-4FsXHwVJ6azMi1vbRasKYnvz2Dq3McnJ7mGJq3XQlpqCHNSVZea6XUq1HFNUJgrGlKlaZlwKt-d-b-0NCFDBDNGbFSApoxT1JWr0sZ1T7480stA/s200/treasure-chest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madonna found money owed her for appearing in a gaming company's video. Robert DeNiro had money waiting from Warner Brothers. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even Bloomberg LP (yes, <i>tha</i>t Bloomberg) had checks waiting for him from New York State.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You need not be a celebrity to find missing money, though. A number of online resources are available so you can conduct your own hunt. If you're stuck at home, looking for money you didn't know was coming to you could be a pleasant diversion. And potentially profitable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What constitutes missing money? Among the items: Utility deposits. Insurance payouts. 401ks that got lost in the shuffle when you changed employers. Forgotten contents of safe deposit boxes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of the sites you can check. Have fun!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.fltreasurehunt.org/" target="_blank">Florida unclaimed funds</a></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.missingmoney.com/" target="_blank">All states and Canadian provinces unclaimed funds</a></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.askebsa.dol.gov/AbandonedPlanSearch" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Employee Benefits Security Administration</span></span></a></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://insurance.va.gov/UnclaimedFunds" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Veterans Administration</span></span></a></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_locate_lost_life_insurance_benefit.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Life Insurance Benefits</span></span></a></b></span></span>Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-33584769419469451512020-04-27T07:34:00.002-04:002020-05-02T14:20:51.635-04:00Parents and Adult Children Shy Away From "The Talk"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhEGl5GAiWyTlbpZv2LK1_-bNapgwTzz4QVnKHczz9qPYsZzQUzP2Iy8aDFAQfV6BR5vsqqecyX-SO2Hc0ee5rMl7SWA2A2ghLIF__8sqAFdQlBZwOfu_HocSa75TOKcSKZI7mK_aBfg/s1600/7stepswhenparentsneedhelp690x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="594" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhEGl5GAiWyTlbpZv2LK1_-bNapgwTzz4QVnKHczz9qPYsZzQUzP2Iy8aDFAQfV6BR5vsqqecyX-SO2Hc0ee5rMl7SWA2A2ghLIF__8sqAFdQlBZwOfu_HocSa75TOKcSKZI7mK_aBfg/s320/7stepswhenparentsneedhelp690x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/" target="_blank">estate planning attorneys</a>, we generally encourage clients to discuss their estate plans and financial plans with their adult children, even if they provide them with just a rough overview. Many clients, for many reasons, are reluctant to follow through on that recommendation. Interestingly, a recent poll shows that the reluctance is mutual!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A January 2020 survey conducted by Mass Mutual of 1,500 adults ages 25-44 reveals that 47% consider it “very important” or “extremely important” to talk with their parents about their parents’ retirement savings. Half anticipate that one of their parents will live past 90. And two thirds worry that parents who live that long will run out of money and will eventually need to rely on their children for support.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But here's the surprise: <i>Their worry doesn't translate into action.</i> Despite their concerns, 71% of Baby Boomers’ adult children report having have little or no knowledge of their parents’ finances, saying they are uncomfortable discussing the topic. Their discomfort with this topic is second only to their discomfort in talking with their parents about sex.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another
survey, reported in a February 26, 2020 <i>Financial Advisor</i> magazine,
also reflects this communication gap. Conducted by Harris
Poll for TD Trade, it surveyed 2,000 adults between the ages of 40 and
79 with a minimum of $25,000 in investable assets. The survey revealed
that just 20% have shared their estate plans with their children, and
only 19% have shared their incapacity plans with their children. And
just 20% have told their children how to access and manage their assets
should it be necessary.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, avoiding the issue doesn't eliminate the reality: Today's increased longevity brings with it financial and legal concerns unknown to prior generations of parents and children. Parents and children must air those concerns with one another if they are to prepare effectively for the future. Having the talk" may not be the easiest conversation, but it can go a long way to giving both generations greater peace of mind. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So parents and adult children, have either of you initiated "the talk"? You need not even meet in person, which as it turns out is a plus in this era of social distancing.Time to get talking! </span></span><br />
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Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-25941620300052430082020-04-13T16:10:00.000-04:002020-04-29T23:31:40.821-04:00An Estate Conflict Straight Out of Hollywood<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tex8HghFv1ifOMLJkDKn7WhLow_HQynz1bJgO9OZqaKbOiTMoc_47ogM1dAmthtcm4ziMWfYW083pabG-4hyphenhyphenR04cNq0hHGPuNxl2WXVxP_IBtHxNzUm76AYDU2-6623u0F5vAnbXhg4/s1600/safe.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tex8HghFv1ifOMLJkDKn7WhLow_HQynz1bJgO9OZqaKbOiTMoc_47ogM1dAmthtcm4ziMWfYW083pabG-4hyphenhyphenR04cNq0hHGPuNxl2WXVxP_IBtHxNzUm76AYDU2-6623u0F5vAnbXhg4/s200/safe.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Here’s
an intriguing, somewhat salacious estate planning story straight out of Tinsel Town.
It even sounds like a Hollywood movie. Not surprisingly, it involves two marriages, children from both, and of course, big money. Read on and take a break from the 24/7 pandemic information overload. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Malibu resident Joe Kaplan started out in his family's Missouri meat-packing business after college graduation. He left that business, and went on to make a fortune in financial services, creating two highly successful firms that were eventually acquired by others. The second, Innovative Merchant Solutions, was bought by Intuit.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Kaplan's first marriage lasted 20 years and produced two children, Brandon and Danielle. The marriage ended in 2006. Two years later Kaplan married Elizabeth McAdams and had a son with her, Parker, born in 2009. Rumor has it that the Kaplans' relationship was not all smooth sailing. Then, while on vacation with Elizabeth in Bermuda in July 2018, Kaplan died suddenly in his sleep. He was 55.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Elizabeth's prenuptial agreement guaranteed her $5 million. Everything else, including their Malibu residence, is in a <b><a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/revocable-living-trusts" target="_blank">Living Trust</a></b>
Joe established for her benefit and the benefit of all three of his children. According to the Joe Kaplan Living Trust, Elizabeth is entitled to live in the house, rent-free, until she remarries or begins cohabiting with someone who is not a blood relative. Joe named his brother, Aaron Kaplan, as trustee. Aaron is a well-known producer
of many television shows, including <i>American Housewife, The Chi, </i>and<i> the Santa Clarita Diet</i>. Joe is not a beneficiary of the trust.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Aaron
knew his brother liked to stash large quantities of cash in his home. Not long after Joe's death, Aaron began to suspect that his sister-in-law might try to pocket those
monies and other valuables, which rightfully belong to the trust, not her. He was also concerned about the solvency of the trust, as his brother reportedly left behind $15 million in gambling debts. Of particular concern to him were the contents of a wall safe in Joe's personal closet.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Aaron
took his concerns to his lawyers. They sent Elizabeth a letter reminding her that everything in the house is trust property and advising her not to touch the safe. But there's more: They installed a secret monitoring system in Joe's closet. Two motion-activated
cameras were placed there, ready to record any attempt to access the safe.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As it turns out, there was an attempt. Footage revealed Elizabeth and a locksmith trying to get the safe open. Other footage recorded Elizabeth searching through her
late husband’s clothing, discovering $10,000 in cash, and pocketing it. While going
through his clothing, she was allegedly on the phone with her father and uncle, making
disparaging remarks to them about her late husband.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">But the secret cameras didn't remain secret. Elizabeth discovered them, disabled them, and recording ceased. In February 2020, Aaron filed a petition for instruction with the court documenting what had transpired. His attorneys stated: "Based on consultations with his
attorney, the Trustee understood that he could – and should – have motion-activated
cameras installed in Joe’s personal closet to monitor and protect those assets
for the beneficiaries of Joe’s Trust." Additionally, Aaron accused his sister-in-law of extortion, saying she threatened to go public with the camera story in order to ruin his reputation - unless he stepped down as trustee.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Aaron refused to step down. And Elizabeth has not backed down, either. Recently she filed a lawsuit against Aaron, accusing him of invasion of privacy. Although Aaron claims both cameras were focused solely inside Joe's closet - one trained on the safe and the other toward the back of the closet - Elizabeth says one camera was pointed in the direction of her personal closet, where she regularly dressed and undressed. Her lawsuit also claims that
Aaron failed to fulfill his duties as trustee by providing her with the $5 million she’s entitled to from her late husband's estate.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">"Protecting trust assets
is not a defense to his violations of Elizabeth’s right of privacy or of
criminal statutes," her attorneys state. "Not only were his actions criminal, they were in poor
judgment, repulsive and perverted, since Aaron, as a male trustee, effectively
placed his ‘eyes and ears’ in a woman’s master bedroom suite, regardless of
whether he actually saw Elizabeth scantily dressed or nude."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Aaron's attorneys' reply: Elizabeth is sensationalizing her husband's death and Aaron has simply done what is required of a fiduciary: "As trustee, Aaron is focused only on protecting the
Trust for the benefit of all of its beneficiaries as his brother wished, and he
will not succumb to extortionist tactics."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Fortunately, if you are a trustee, performing your fiduciary duty is likely to be fairly straightforward, and hidden cameras won't be necessary. The Kaplan case will no doubt present more moments of suspense as the parties battle it out. As they say on TV - a business that trustee Aaron Kaplan knows well - <i>Stay tuned. </i></span></span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-31408695447208548082020-04-10T12:41:00.000-04:002020-04-10T12:41:04.902-04:00COVID-19 Legal Plans: What Do You Need Now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnpgQvnWk8zoYPV_MgS2j0-cZUUc_NXwmNPtf9-V4lFvFn3a-KNzQQsYNoEQ0U3d9WYy6U9LnNr1iTJQkdE0g79zhzAk6Cfs2EWirRLwermM7srs9R9sNNVRJNpDbEpZWqO36ObOMIks/s1600/COVID+19+radio+show+4-11-20+vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnpgQvnWk8zoYPV_MgS2j0-cZUUc_NXwmNPtf9-V4lFvFn3a-KNzQQsYNoEQ0U3d9WYy6U9LnNr1iTJQkdE0g79zhzAk6Cfs2EWirRLwermM7srs9R9sNNVRJNpDbEpZWqO36ObOMIks/s1600/COVID+19+radio+show+4-11-20+vertical.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-61516240570682795922020-04-01T20:22:00.001-04:002020-04-01T21:24:45.866-04:00 Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Residents and Families Cope With Pandemic<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU2L5g_6MCTM0TtROANd7EyWzaOxBdmUUBtPbX0f6-5iIz9nSCLtR-QkZev1mMXpvVuA4FRbqnEYC-h6bqd3N29mTL17orheIMH5UOtTlXFtOep5bOqmHIe8cUFG54SH9KoazBxX9oKY/s1600/coronavirus.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU2L5g_6MCTM0TtROANd7EyWzaOxBdmUUBtPbX0f6-5iIz9nSCLtR-QkZev1mMXpvVuA4FRbqnEYC-h6bqd3N29mTL17orheIMH5UOtTlXFtOep5bOqmHIe8cUFG54SH9KoazBxX9oKY/s200/coronavirus.webp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are 71,000 people living in 691 licensed nursing homes in Florida, and thousands more in assisted living residences. Nursing homes and assisted living residences provide comfort, security and help. But these days, they also provide everything the corona virus needs to get a foothold: groups of older, more susceptible people living in close proximity to one another. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A blizzard of new federal and state rules to protect residents' health have been issued over the last few weeks. Those same rules are leaving many residents lonely and isolated, as well as demanding heroic efforts from facility staff. Here is an overview of the key rules under our “new normal”:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You cannot visit, for now</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On March 14, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration banned most visitors to long-term care facilities and assisted living residences. The ban lasts for 30 days, but may be extended. Exceptions may be made for compassionate visitations (end of life visits, for example). Anyone seeking entry to a facility may be given a screening questionnaire and have their temperature taken. Staff members are also checked for fever upon arrival. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Communal dining and other group activities have been curtailed. Residents are also discouraged from leaving the facility except for essential services. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How can you stay in touch with a resident? </b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By now you’ve probably seen news clips of family members standing outside residents’ windows, blowing kisses and holding up signs. But there are other, simpler ways to stay in touch with your loved one. Phone calls. Old fashioned letters. (Although some are worried about infected paper surfaces, the CDC and WHO say that this is an unlikely means of viral transmission). In some facilities, a staff member goes from room to room to coordinate video chats for families via skype, face time, etc. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How you communicate with your loved one will obviously depend on many factors, including your technical expertise, technology available at your loved one's residence, and your loved one’s cognitive functioning. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You won't necessarily know if the residence has COVID19 cases</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As of March 31, 66 long-term care residents at 19 different facilities in Florida had tested positive for the virus. While families naturally want to know if their loved one's living facility is affected, Florida is withholding the identity of affected facilities. According to the AHCA, releasing the information would violate HIPAA privacy laws. And Florida Governor DeSantis believes the information would cause relatives to worry unnecessarily. Critics counter that HIPAA applies to individuals, not facilities, and that being kept in the dark causes more worry. In any event, Stefan Grow, an attorney for ACHA, says the information will be released only when “…the State Health Officer’s determination that release of the information is necessary for the protection of the public’s health.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No new admissions </b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In order to protect residents and staff during the pandemic, long-term care nursing homes are accepting new residents <i>only</i> if they are transferring directly from a hospital stay. Hospitals must follow strict protocols to ensure that discharged patients have tested negative for the virus. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Assisted living facilities are accepting new residents, but only after careful screening to ensure the applicant is virus-free. </span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's hoping that we return soon to the OLD normal. Good health to all! </span></span></i></b></div>
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<br />Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-1769729450520917572020-03-25T20:46:00.004-04:002020-04-01T21:16:02.460-04:00Warren Buffet Instructs Fiduciaries To Retain Berkshire Stock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmIDrN9EDBoyKkKmRYTm40GlX-3fM3ZfgBw4ED8xskvvLgCh4SnDy1t2zRkMXpwGmXOk5X-Jv8BZ2BgnnZdWXXTGCxvar-QGkFS5QFg_xRwp0MX8G7IkSmElB_4haNOJxafTJ8RlVLUU/s1600/buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmIDrN9EDBoyKkKmRYTm40GlX-3fM3ZfgBw4ED8xskvvLgCh4SnDy1t2zRkMXpwGmXOk5X-Jv8BZ2BgnnZdWXXTGCxvar-QGkFS5QFg_xRwp0MX8G7IkSmElB_4haNOJxafTJ8RlVLUU/s320/buffet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Warren Buffet, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is worth $82.2 billion. His estate plan provides for his children in a manner consistent with his philosophy: <i>Leave your children enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing.</i> The bulk of his fortune will go to charity when he dies. The 89-year-old has already given $34 billion to the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ninety-nine percent of Buffet's wealth is in Berkshire stock. </span></span>In the just-released 2020 annual report, he directs his trustees and executors to retain the stock, and to ignore their fiduciary responsibility </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">to diversify investments. He writes: </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Today,
my will specifically directs its executors - as well as the trustees
who will succeed them in administering my estate after the will is closed
- not to sell any Berkshire shares... My will also absolves both the
executors and the trustees from liability for maintaining what obviously
will be an extreme concentration of assets."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even with today's plunging stock market, it's reasonable to assume that Berkshire will rebound and return to its stellar historical performance. It has quite a track record: From 1965 to 2019, the S+P overall return was 19,784%. That looks positively shabby compared to Berkshire's return for the same period: </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2,744,062%. </span></span>Buffet's beneficiaries are unlikely to complain so long as the stock does well. But if</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Berkshire stock declines significantly after his death, beneficiaries may not care that Buffet let his fiduciaries off the hook, and may go ahead and sue anyway.</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Feb. 29 <i>New York Times</i> article ("Is An Investment Sage's Estate Plan Imprudent?") draws parallels between Buffet and the late Charles Dumont, whose fortune was entirely in Kodak stock. Like Buffet, Dumont directed his trustees to retain Kodak, saying his trustees were not to be held responsible for any decline in value. And decline it did, dramatically, for the half-century it was held in trust. The trustee was taken to court for violation of fiduciary duty, and in 2004 the New York Surrogate Court found the trustee personally liable for $21 million in losses. (Luckily for the trustee, an appeals court later reversed the ruling.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The takeaway here is this: whether you are a personal representative and trustee for a zillionaire or for a person of ordinary means, you must be mindful of all your fiduciary duties, including the duty to diversify. For a list of all that is required of you, <b><a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/trust-administration" target="_blank">click here</a>.</b> </span></span></div>
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<br />Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-37042971519015808152020-03-17T13:44:00.003-04:002020-03-18T13:25:19.499-04:00IRS gives most individual taxpayers until July 15 to file<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Internal Revenue Service has just announced that most Americans will have an additional 90 days to pay taxes due to the unprecedented situation we are facing. <b>This pushes the deadline date from April 15 to July 15, 2020.</b> The extension is available for taxpayers who owe $1 million or less in taxes. During this time period, fees and penalties are waived, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postpones-april-15-tax-deadline-for-90-days-for-millions-of-americans-11584463242?mod=e2fb&fbclid=IwAR0VgdUIxC1W64xScVSfXDf4tooKWo4oFUJQuIeYQhnb_VFycbTK0lj7gSg" target="_blank">Read more here</a>.</b> </span></div>
<br />Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-36855658861562654372020-03-13T10:10:00.004-04:002020-03-13T10:10:38.897-04:00A Letter To Our Clients About COVID-19 Preparations<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Letter From The Karp Law Firm Regarding COVID-19 Preparations </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The COVID-19 situation is presenting challenges for everyone. This is a time for taking logical precautions, not for panic. We will get through this! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until we do, we want to let you know that our office is open and operational and ready to serve you. Rest assured that we are closely monitoring the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization and have implemented all recommended steps to keep our offices safe and sanitary:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All staff are washing hands regularly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Any staff member who does not feel well or has been in contact with an affected individual must work from home and cannot come to the office. Thus far no such situation has occurred.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are wiping down every surface regularly with disinfectant, and doing the same in every conference room each time it is used.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hand sanitizer is available at the front door for anyone entering the office. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For now, we're refraining from embracing or shaking hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Virtual Appointments Available</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you would prefer a telephonic conference to an in-person meeting, we will be happy to arrange this for you. We also request that we meet telephonically if you are not feeling well or believe you have been in contact with an affected individual. Call 561-625-1100 and we will convert your existing appointment into a telephone conference, or schedule a new one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Free Seminars Temporarily Postponed</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have temporarily suspended our public workshops. We will resume offering them as soon as we can. In the meantime, you can find much of the information disseminated at our workshop on our web site, <a href="http://www.karplaw.com./"><b>www.karplaw.com</b>.</a> As soon as our new schedule is ready, it will also be posted on our web site.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (561) 625-1100. </span></i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the best,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Attorneys & Staff of The Karp Law Firm</span></div>
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Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-30459932914853629212020-02-26T06:38:00.000-05:002020-03-01T20:47:04.586-05:00Kirk Douglas, Leading Man On and Off Screen, In Life and Death<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Silver screen icon Kirk Douglas passed away on February 5 at the age of 103. He left behind his wife of 65 years, Anne; three sons, Michael, Peter and Joel; several grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Douglas was as spectacularly charitable in death as he was in life, leaving most of his $80 million estate to charity. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Born Issur Danielovitch, Douglas was one of seven children raised by impoverished immigrants from present-day Belarus. He grew up in Amsterdam, New York, a small town near Albany. His father Herschel was unable to find work at the town's mills because they did not hire Jews, and turned to making a living as the town “ragman,” collecting and selling junk. Despite these humble circumstances, Douglas recalled that his mother, Bryna, was generous: "Sometimes we didn't have enough to eat, but very often there would be a knock at the door and it would be a hobo wanting food, and my mother always gave them something,” he said in a 2015 interview. “My mother said to me, 'You must take care of other people.' That stayed with me."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He estimated that he had no less than 40 jobs before his film career took off, including washing dishes and delivering newspapers. He served in World War II as a communications officer of Patrol Craft 1139, and was injured in an accidental explosion. His later years were no walk in the park, either: in 2004 he lost his son Eric to an accidental drug overdose; suffered a debilitating stroke that impaired his speech; and was seriously injured in a helicopter crash.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of Douglas’ estate will now go to the Douglas Foundation, a non-profit that he and Anne established in 1964. It is one of the entertainment industry’s oldest and largest non-profits. Its website states of its founders: <i>They wanted to give back – not only in thanks for their many blessings, but as a means of teaching their children and grandchildren the lessons they had learned. The Douglas Foundation’s principal goal is to help those who cannot otherwise help themselves.</i> Anne still serves as the organization's managing trustee. <br /><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Among the foundation's beneficiaries are The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; a scholarship for underprivileged students at St. Lawrence University, Douglas’ alma mater; the Kirk Douglas Care Pavilion, part of an Alzheimer’s facility that serves the entertainment industry; The Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City, nurturing young talent; the Kirk and Anne Douglas Childhood Center; the Kirk Douglas High School that helps at-risk youth finish their education; and the Anne Douglas Center for Homeless Women, focused on assisting women dealing with addiction. In his later years he and Anne spearheaded a campaign to build 400 playgrounds in Los Angeles. <a href="http://www.douglasfoundation.org/grants" target="_blank">Read more about the projects the foundation supports</a>.<br /><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although Douglas never won an Oscar for his many films, he did receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, a Kennedy Center Honors Award, the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and the French Legion of Honor.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He reportedly left nothing to his son Michael, the actor/producer and the most well-known of his three sons. But that does not reflect a family rift: Michael is said to be worth $300 million, doesn't need the money, and he and his father had a loving relationship. We do not know what if anything he left to his two other sons, all of whom are involved in the movie business. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anne Douglas recalls that in 2015, reflecting on the money he had amassed, her husband told her: <i>I want to give it all away. </i>And he has. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A "leading man," in life and death.</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-42500681933702305092020-02-22T12:55:00.004-05:002020-03-01T20:39:37.455-05:00What Every Personal Representative Must Know<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Naming a personal representative (executor) to administer your estate is a serious decision. So is deciding if you want to serve as one. A personal representative is a <i><b>fiduciary</b></i>, required to always act in the best interest of beneficiaries. Moreover, he/she may be personally liable for any damages to beneficiaries. A recent case out of New York State illustrates the point. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Marjorie Kenney died June 21, 2007 in New York State. Her <b><a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-wills" target="_blank">will</a> </b>left all her assets to a not-for-profit organization established in her daughter’s memory. Kenney’s will named Michael Brockbank as executor. As her longtime attorney, trustee of the foundation, and agent under Kenney's power of attorney, Brockbank was familiar with Kenney's situation and finances. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brockbank did not administer her estate expeditiously, however. In fact, he did not even submit an accounting until years later, when the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau took him to court in 2014 to get the estate closed. At that time it also came to light that the vast majority of Kenney's estate was tied up in General Electric stock, valued at about $4.6 million. For years after her death, Brockbank let the GE stock sit, untouched - despite the prudent investor rule requiring, among other things, that a fiduciary diversify investments. Brockbank cited several reasons for his inaction: First, the stock paid a 3.3% dividend. Second, he believed Kenney had a sentimental attachment to the stock. It had been in her family for years, and when he once suggested selling it, she had refused. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notwithstanding his reasons, the court found Brockbank's failure to diversify to be a violation of his fiduciary duty. To calculate damages, the court compared the performance of GE stock with the S+P index from Kenney's date of death to 2017, when Brockbank finally sold the stock. GE's annualized return was -.53%. The S+P's was +5.9%. Failure to diversify the decedent's portfolio had cost the estate $3.5 million. Brockbank was ordered to pay it back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was also cited for several other violations of his executor duties. Among them was his handling of Kenney's home. Her 1500-square-foot house was in serious disrepair when she died. Brockbank estimated the property to be worth between $50,000 and $60,000, but made that determination without obtaining any professional appraisals. Concluding the property was worth fixing up, he hired his longtime personal contractor to do the work, without soliciting any other bids. Nor did he obtain from his contractor a written, itemized statement of work to be done. The contractor merely estimated renovations would cost between $100,000 and $200,000. When all was said and done, renovations came to $233,614.93. When Brockbank ultimately sold the refurbished property, the estate netted $233,972.09 - effectively nothing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether selecting someone to serve as your personal representative, or deciding if you want to serve as one, you must be aware of the fiduciary standard to be upheld. Although business acumen is certainly a plus in a personal representative, integrity and common sense are paramount. Professionals can always be retained to provide any expertise a personal representative may lack, be it in investing, tax matters, real estate, etc. An experienced <b><a href="http://www.karplaw.com/" target="_blank">probate attorney</a> </b>is the place to begin: He/she can perform many of the personal representative's tasks, and/or guide the personal representative to appropriate resources. This will enable the estate to be administered as efficiently and quickly as possible. </span></span><br />
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Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-84402271216369477482020-02-13T21:45:00.002-05:002020-03-01T20:52:11.069-05:00Guardianship in Florida: A Bad Apple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On February 11, Rebecca Fierle was arrested in Marion County, Florida on felony charges of aggravated abuse of an elderly person. As disturbing as elder abuse is, this case is particularly horrifying because Fierle was a professional guardian, entrusted with the welfare of elderly and incapacitated people in 13 Florida counties. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steven Stryker was the victim in this case, but just one of many Fierle is accused of victimizing. A Vietnam vet who moved to Florida to care for his aging parents two decades ago, Stryker struggled with alcoholism and PTSD. In recent years he experienced esophageal dysfunction and swallowing difficulties. In 2018 he was admitted to AdventHealth Orlando for treatment. While in the hospital, Advent asked the court to appoint Fierle as his guardian. The petition was granted, although Stryker’s daughter, Kim, a Virginia resident, was never contacted.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stryker was later transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where a temporary feeding tube was inserted. Acting in her capacity as his guardian, Fierle signed a Do Not Resuscitate order, also requesting that his feeding tube be capped. She never discussed the DNR with Stryker, who subsequent investigations indicate had the capacity to understand what was going on. Nor did she consult with his daughter. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Additional investigations have revealed that doctors and others tried to convince Fierle to revoke the DNR. They believed Stryker was competent to make decisions, that he wanted to be fed via feeding tube and desired resuscitation. Linda Lanier, Stryker's friend of several years, said, “Steve was very capable of making his own decisions.” And Dr. Kirtikumar Pandya, a psychiatrist who examined Stryker at the time, concurs that Stryker wanted to live. Pandya also questioned whether Fierle had adequate health care experience.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Four days after the feeding tube was capped, Stryker began to choke. With hands tied by the DNR, hospital staff could not perform lifesaving measures. Stryker died on May 13, 2019, at age 75.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has now come to light that Fierle signed DNR's for many of her wards. She also violated Florida law by not seeking court permission for payments from outside sources. According to an audit by the Orange County Comptroller, Fierle received nearly $4 million from AdventHealth, without court approval. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In July 2019, Judge Janet Thorpe removed Fierle as guardian of 98 individuals in Orange and Osceola counties. Judges across Central Florida followed suit and either accepted her resignation or removed her from guardianship duties. The case has been an impetus for Florida lawmakers, who have been struggling for years to reform the guardianship system. A new bill now under consideration would, among other measures, require court authorization before a guardian can sign a DNR order. It would also require guardians to submit to the state more detailed financial and payment information.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the moment, Fierle is out on bond. A trial date will be set. But it all comes too late for Stryker. Says his daughter: "The guardian who caused my dad’s death has been arrested. It’s encouraging that the state has brought charges. But the problem of guardian abuse does not go away with her. The laws vary state to state and God forbid you, or someone you love, falls into the control of a bad one like her." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no question that the vast majority of court-appointed guardians are hardworking and well-intentioned. But who wants to risk ending up with a bad apple? Even if an honest court-appointed guardian is in charge, do you really want your fate and fortune in the hands of someone the court selects for you? Do you want the court inserting itself into your affairs? If your answer to these questions is no, then you need plans to prevent it. A valid and up-to-date <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/disability-protection" target="_blank">durable power of attorney</a> and <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/types-of-advance-directives" target="_blank">health care surrogate</a> will authorize someone to handle your affairs if the need ever arises. See a qualified elder law/estate planning attorney to establish these vital documents. </span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-38675639951400086832020-01-18T16:44:00.002-05:002020-01-28T21:25:02.355-05:00Stories Of Assets Lost and Found<div style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3q6bPotmRKX5KMDvn1CejM4yIznRAVd77zDERyckeYND3h-6KJzKV880tfgKYJPFqoFFqZMjVc0-l71rnjZxOgeZ03OHUQ6Dm97nC4mUyenC9tGwzDngbpCFtEOjb2C6W6eAJnXeIlA/s1600/foundmoney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="570" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3q6bPotmRKX5KMDvn1CejM4yIznRAVd77zDERyckeYND3h-6KJzKV880tfgKYJPFqoFFqZMjVc0-l71rnjZxOgeZ03OHUQ6Dm97nC4mUyenC9tGwzDngbpCFtEOjb2C6W6eAJnXeIlA/s200/foundmoney.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">Reports
frequently come in from around the country about misplaced, forgotten or
hidden
valuables found in deceased person's homes, or in items that have been
donated to
second-hand stores. Sometimes the valuables are discovered by rightful
heirs, sometimes not. It's a sure bet that plenty of people who are
not entitled to what they find are quietly pocketing their discoveries.
Those stories don't make it into the news.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">Your takeaway: Please organize and de-clutter your home. If you are prone to hiding
cash or other valuables somewhere, be sure to tell your <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/revocable-living-trusts" target="_blank">trustee</a>, personal
representative under your <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-wills" target="_blank">will</a>, and your agent under your <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/disability-protection" target="_blank">durable power of attorney</a> where to look when the time comes. And if you are responsible for cleaning out a loved one’s house, overlook
nothing. You probably won’t want to take a sledgehammer to the walls as some
did in the stories below…but at the very least, thoroughly check sofa cushions, the
tops of closet shelves and the medicine cabinet.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">Some
relevant recent stories:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Put Your Feet Up On This Footstool. </span></b><span style="color: #333333;">The
Associated Press reports that when Philip Fauth of Michigan passed away in July 2019, his
granddaughter Kimberly went through his belongings. He had always been frugal, even
paying $9,000 cash for a new roof. After Kimberly donated his furniture
to Habitat for Humanity, shopper Howard Kirby purchased some of it for $70. Among the items:
a footstool. Once Kirby got it home, he and his daughter-in-law agreed that it just
didn’t feel right. Unzipping the cushion, they found $43,170 in cash. An honest
guy, Kirby saw to it that the money was returned to Kimberly.</span><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">The Bond In The Book.</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"><b> </b>News 9
out of Oklahoma City
tells us how a decedent’s saving bond made its way back to its rightful owner. Picking up <i>Norman Rockwell’s
America </i>while browsing in a used bookstore, Kevin King found a fully
matured savings bond tucked inside. He did some research and discovered
that the original owner, Oma Mclain, had passed away in 2002. The
co-owner was
one James Tober, to whom King delivered the bond. Its value? $19,932.
Where the book and the bond were for the eighteen years prior is
anyone's guess.</span><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Under The Floorboards In Minnesota.</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"><b> </b>A
2019
story from KMSP News in Hennepin,
Minnesota relates that Andy
Rasmussen found a bag of cash under the floorboards of a home. The bag
was perched atop a duct and contained about $30,000 in cash. A
specialist in renovating homes to make them accessible to
the disabled, Rasmussen turned the money over to the charity that had
hired him. It’s going to a good cause, but obviously not to the original
owner or the owner's heirs. Who they are remains unknown.</span></span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-35572184669366722452020-01-10T11:36:00.000-05:002020-01-28T21:54:59.558-05:00Family Fighting Over Former Attorney General's Childhood Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9-7DhybbCci4mWyiFDIexNVxzwTyLeF3AZeLx6NSvDytm1v0H7ecXvCDsfFiDhExF_FSz-E8KA_RdMu04bataapVXfVIwYud4x3zAsEDMlEtBhQZLRR8aJFgtoGuVE4hbZ8oCTJSoZY/s1600/reno.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1187" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9-7DhybbCci4mWyiFDIexNVxzwTyLeF3AZeLx6NSvDytm1v0H7ecXvCDsfFiDhExF_FSz-E8KA_RdMu04bataapVXfVIwYud4x3zAsEDMlEtBhQZLRR8aJFgtoGuVE4hbZ8oCTJSoZY/s200/reno.JPEG" width="154" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You probably think that the <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-estate-planning">estate plan</a> of one of the nation's most prominent legal authorities would be absolutely airtight. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But you would be wrong. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Janet Reno was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Clinton, the first woman to serve in that role. Raised in Miami, Reno subsequently ran an ultimately unsuccessful campaign for the Florida governorship. She died as a result of Parkinson's Disease in 2016, age 78. She had no husband or children. Her <a href="https://www.karplaw.com/page/faqs-about-living-trusts" target="_blank">revocable trust</a> listed her seven nieces and nephews as beneficiaries, and named one of them, James Hurchalla, as her successor trustee. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reno's estate plan gave special consideration to her longtime Dade County home. A unique piece of property amidst suburban sprawl, the rustic ranch home was built by hand by Reno's mother in the 1940s. It sits on four acres of undeveloped land, can be reached only via a dirt road, and is hidden from view by thick vegetation. Reno's estate plan bequeathed the property to the University of Miami, on the condition that it preserve the property and keep it undeveloped. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just one problem, and a big one: The University of Miami did not want it. The school determined it was too expensive to maintain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because Reno failed to include alternative arrangements for the property, her successor trustee sought out another educational institution for the bequest. Miami-Dade College, located just a quarter mile from the ranch, agreed to take the property and preserve it as Reno had specified. The Miami-Dade Circuit Court approved the substitution, stating: "...If </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a particular charitable purpose becomes
unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful, the court
may...modify or terminate the trust. … in
a manner consistent with the settlor’s charitable purposes.”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But now another problem: One of Reno's beneficiaries, her niece Janet M. Reno, wasn't on board with the decision to give the property to Miami-Dade College. She argued that since the property will not pass precisely as Reno originally intended, it must be sold and the proceeds distributed to the nieces and nephews. She took her case to the Miami-based Third Court of Appeals, but it ruled against her in August 2019, finding that substituting a different school was in conformity with her aunt's intent: "The
University of Miami’s declination to accept the charitable transfer
made the original disposition impossible to achieve. But the successor trustee identified an even
closer charitable, educational institution to accept the gift and to
comply fully with Ms. Reno’s conditions ‘in perpetuity,’ respecting the
‘unique character’ and ‘historical importance’ of the Reno homestead."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is not the end of it, however. Late last year Reno took her case to the Florida Supreme Court. She claims that once her aunt died, the trust became irrevocable, and the terms cannot be changed. In other words, Miami-Dade College may not substitute for the University of Miami. Her attorneys write of the lower court's decision: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The
opinion if allowed to stand would allow
Florida courts and fiduciaries to alter the testamentary intent of
Floridians after they pass away thereby eroding their constitutional
right to freely devise their assets. The issue is of great public importance to the people of our state,
with its high population of elderly citizens, as well as the trust and
estate bar."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what happens now? The Reno family waits for a decision. And the rest of us get a lesson in why one's estate plan must be precisely worded and cover all possible scenarios, whether you're a regular citizen or a U.S. Attorney General.</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-86406670384278475972020-01-03T11:41:00.002-05:002020-01-03T11:41:10.497-05:00SECURE Act goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, Makes Big Changes To Retirement Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwl04jzMK5nslcKImZvLa60Fxk9DjNCCnQttSsOzKLqWNlfhsj0lhZJ43KqZ6lhjJhe-hl1wH9DJ8oo95EE8uyVLkvuam8UYL7GuDMuCzXpHxl_t6ChYWggWVQaeWPWTwXwuaN9ZpHrE/s1600/retirement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwl04jzMK5nslcKImZvLa60Fxk9DjNCCnQttSsOzKLqWNlfhsj0lhZJ43KqZ6lhjJhe-hl1wH9DJ8oo95EE8uyVLkvuam8UYL7GuDMuCzXpHxl_t6ChYWggWVQaeWPWTwXwuaN9ZpHrE/s1600/retirement.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The SECURE Act has been enacted into law. Effective January 1, 2020, it makes sweeping changes to retirement savings plans. These changes will also impact some people's estate plans. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">From an estate planning perspective, the most important changes occur in two areas: </span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The age for mandatory withdrawals from IRAs and 401ks has been raised.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Non-spouse beneficiaries have less time in which to withdraw the funds from an inherited IRA.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The legislation is currently being analyzed by estate planning and financial professionals. Final regulations have yet to be promulgated. We will provide further information to our clients and readers as we get greater clarity on the impact of the law and possible steps that should be taken.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.karplaw.com/index.php?go=news.news&news_id=536" target="_blank">Detailed information at The Karp Law Firm website</a>. </span> </span></span></div>
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<br />Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-24152910285526442942020-01-01T00:00:00.002-05:002020-01-02T16:36:44.955-05:00Renown Dementia Expert Coming To Florida<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uC4r5y6YBbJgBamCACGTucHN4Ba5_d6qnN2qJ_ggwPB5OMm1dR-MuDLWNXHk6FkaC88vOqw55kAX7iPwkmx5ZIhFJ-kKUj1CZ6JV6as5NjIqXwZlGVPuJIMurUZSesnvTqzF1hnxn8M/s1600/teepa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uC4r5y6YBbJgBamCACGTucHN4Ba5_d6qnN2qJ_ggwPB5OMm1dR-MuDLWNXHk6FkaC88vOqw55kAX7iPwkmx5ZIhFJ-kKUj1CZ6JV6as5NjIqXwZlGVPuJIMurUZSesnvTqzF1hnxn8M/s200/teepa.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dementia care expert Teepa Snow is making several presentations in our area this month. An occupational therapist with over 40 years of experience, Ms. Snow helps families and professionals understand how it feels to live with a neurodegenerative disorder. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Her company, Positive Approach to Care, provides education and training to families and professional caregivers alike. Ms. Snow's presentations are very popular and an RSVP is required. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Wednesday, January 22, 9:00am – 11:00am</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Typical Progression of Dementia and How to Help</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Intergenerational Recreation Center</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1590 9th Street SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RSVP: (772) 463-1112</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">Wednesday, January 22, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.</span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Managing Behaviors Starting with Yourself</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Kane Center</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">900 SE Salerno Road, Stuart, FL 34997</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RSVP: (772) 463-1112</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Thursday, January 23, 9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>*for professionals only</i><br /> <b>Identifying Risk Factors for Dementia and Deciding What to Do About It</b><br />Addington Place, 1031 Community Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458<br />RSVP: (561) 202-6939<br /><br /> <span style="color: #660000;"><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Thursday, January 23, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.</b></span></span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*for families</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Understanding Dementia from Everyone’s Point of View</b><br />Addington Place, 1031 Community Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RSVP: (561) 202-6939</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-84094855503520481622019-12-24T00:13:00.001-05:002020-01-05T14:56:55.237-05:00With A Do It Yourself Will, They Almost Got Away With Disinheriting a Rightful Beneficiary<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQamUhZTXb3uoLzKZ4X04vGY3DbWJeq7KGevy9uVYENMh-l4IQi70fsl0s03F_cfBhagKlGMl67v7-lWulgqe1fxH93s7Nel-IuDiIuevBWmxnbdbipK8UbB3_TIGN-9LAI6G2mRG4Kg/s1600/handcuffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="615" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQamUhZTXb3uoLzKZ4X04vGY3DbWJeq7KGevy9uVYENMh-l4IQi70fsl0s03F_cfBhagKlGMl67v7-lWulgqe1fxH93s7Nel-IuDiIuevBWmxnbdbipK8UbB3_TIGN-9LAI6G2mRG4Kg/s320/handcuffs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Online web sites that allow the creation of do-it-yourself estate planning
documents have some serious downsides. Among them: making it easier for people
with nefarious motives to create fraudulent documents. From Arkansas comes an interesting case that illustrates the danger.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arkansas resident Matthew Jacobs, 34, was killed in a car
accident in 2015. His estate was about $1.7 million, in large part from a settlement for injuries he sustained in the Deep Horizon
oil rig explosion. Jacobs left behind a 17-year-old son, Jordan.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the time of death,
Jacobs was in a long-term relationship with Alexandra Peterson, 23. When Jacobs’
son and brother could not find a <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-wills" target="_blank">will</a>, Peterson’s mother, Donna Herring, saw an
opportunity. On the website formswift.com that provides do-it-yourself will
preparation software, Herring posed as Jacobs. She created a fraudulent last
will and testament leaving just $50,000 to Jacobs’ son, and the rest to Peterson,
who she also named as executor (a role
that as a minor, Peterson could not legally assume). Herring used her sister
Diane Kinley’s debit card to pay for the online will, and enlisted Diane and her
husband John Kinley as “witnesses” to the will.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Herring then obtained from her daughter the
combination to Jacobs’ gun safe. She placed the phony will in the safe, provided the combination to her husband and a family friend, and directed them to enter Jacobs' home and open the safe. Of course, they then "discovered" the will
Herring had placed inside.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The will was probated and a settlement reached in March 2015.
Jacobs’ son received the $50,000 earmarked in the fraudulent will, and an additional $250,000. He and Jacobs’ brother received some personal property. But Peterson got the
lion’s share of her boyfriend's estate: $1,300,000.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The windfall didn’t last, though. In 2016 the FBI and Arkansas State Police
started investigating, and the law caught up with Herring and the others. All pleaded guilty
to wire fraud or conspiracy to commit wire fraud. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This past November, Judge
Susan Hickey of the Western Arkansas U.S. District Court handed down their sentences: <span style="color: black;">Herring will spend 41 months in prison followed by
three years of supervised release, notwithstanding her assertion that her
judgment was clouded by grief over losing Jacobs, who she says was like a son to her. </span><span style="color: black;">Her sister Diane will serve 18 months in
jail, and her sister's husband, 12 months. All must report to prison on Jan.
22, 2020. As for Peterson, Jacobs’ girlfriend, investigators concluded she was
not involved in hatching the plot. She did, however, lie to the FBI
by claiming she did not know the whereabouts of Jacobs’ cell phone. That
lie earned her six months of house arrest and three years’ probation.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Herring,
her sister and brother-in-law will also have to make restitution no later than
2026.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">The U.S.
Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas has said of the case: “I hope that
the conviction and sentence in this matter represents some comfort to Matthew
Jacobs’ son, Jordan Jacobs, who was the victim of this scheme to disinherit him
in the wake of his father’s tragic passing."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s the takeaway for the rest of us: First, to be sure your assets end up with the people you want to have them, don't procrastinate and don’t leave it to chance. Consult an experienced <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/" target="_blank">estate planning attorney</a> to construct your plan. Second, always let your personal representative(s), your trustee(s) or other trusted contacts know that you have created a will, and let them know where they can find it when the time comes.</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-29604941627194201122019-12-09T22:17:00.000-05:002019-12-09T22:17:07.225-05:00Abandonment leads rocker to disinherit wife. That won't fly in Florida.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNVHAxxdH11Nsp4cyo5NKlI70CMaFoLwcjhm6IhVN54xT-3Zce1ua4hlCqUaaMbWxWN9orzwOxJ_iSNtfwF0WlYhQC1hlZg_El-LP18MEGywD4_KUJ13ct5qNWpMozG2ihyphenhyphengtmBLHy9k/s1600/ric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="455" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNVHAxxdH11Nsp4cyo5NKlI70CMaFoLwcjhm6IhVN54xT-3Zce1ua4hlCqUaaMbWxWN9orzwOxJ_iSNtfwF0WlYhQC1hlZg_El-LP18MEGywD4_KUJ13ct5qNWpMozG2ihyphenhyphengtmBLHy9k/s200/ric.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rock'n’roll lost another icon on September 15 with the death
of Ric Ocasek. The 75-year-old lead singer of The Cars died at his New York City townhouse
from pulmonary and cardiac complications following surgery. Now, there are complications in his estate, too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the time of his passing Ocasek was separated but not
divorced from his wife of 28 years, supermodel Paulina Porzikova. His <b><a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-wills" target="_blank">will</a>,</b>
signed just a month earlier, states: <i>“I
have made no provision for my wife Paulina Porzikova (“Paulina”) as we are in
the process of divorcing. Even if I should die before our divorce is final …
Paulina is not entitled to any elective share … because she has abandoned me.”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The word “abandonment” is key. In both New
York State and in Florida,
a surviving spouse is entitled to a one-third elective share of the deceased spouse’s estate.
But while abandonment can be a legally valid basis for disinheriting a spouse in New York, that's not the case in Florida.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following Ocasek’s passing, Porzikova pushed back on the notion that she had abandoned Ocasek, despite the ongoing divorce proceedings. She heaped lavish praise on him, calling him her “sun.”
She noted that she was caring for him during his recuperation, had brought him cookies the night before his death, and was the one who discovered his
body the next morning when she stopped to deliver coffee. She wrote on Instagram: “We still lived together… His
death is the end of my world as I knew it.” The couple has two sons together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Estimates of Ocasek’s estate, based on a list of assets filed
with his will, include $100,000 in tangible personal property, just $15,000 in
cash - but over $5 million in “copyright rights.” And that does not include
whatever might be in trusts that are not publicly viewable. That is ample impetus for Porzikova to file suit and to pursue her elective share. That now appears likely to happen: In November, Porizkova hired a
lawyer to represent her. The “abandonment” issue will surely figure
prominently as the case proceeds. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Florida
residents who plan to marry are wise to remember that Florida makes it extraordinarily difficult to disinherit a spouse. It follows that if circumstances warrant it - for example, if you have children from a prior marriage or significant assets prior to a new marriage - you should consider obtaining a pre-marital waiver of elective share. A pending divorce or even what Ocasek describes as "abandonment" has no legal significance in Florida: your spouse remains your spouse, entitled to an elective share of your estate and to certain rights to homestead property, until the marriage is legally dissolved.</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-9456722601496642622019-11-24T09:24:00.000-05:002019-12-01T12:47:09.070-05:00Considerations When Giving Holiday Gifts To Special Needs Loved Ones<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5ukwCJcauCx-iQBiqO1c3DIW9RDh-zSeu2pz4j-lO4eeeNp8nDfcEm7TccHOOaS9Qa62yYbGoK2xrNOutwUOrduUJ57Qq3TKQOt5QWhf544LagC-zVraotWY3oM9Gjbjss7SpNrzjcY/s1600/christmas-gifts-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="615" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5ukwCJcauCx-iQBiqO1c3DIW9RDh-zSeu2pz4j-lO4eeeNp8nDfcEm7TccHOOaS9Qa62yYbGoK2xrNOutwUOrduUJ57Qq3TKQOt5QWhf544LagC-zVraotWY3oM9Gjbjss7SpNrzjcY/s200/christmas-gifts-2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this time of year many people think about giving gifts to the young people in their life. If the recipient has special needs and receives federal aid such as Medicaid or SSI, or may apply for it in the future, you should give serious consideration to what and how you give.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monetary Gifts </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a general rule, monetary gifts should <b><i>not</i></b> be made directly to your special needs loved one, in order to avoid jeopardizing his/her eligibility for vital government benefits. Giving a gift to someone with special needs is about more than being generous. It's about being generous <i>the right way</i>. Consider these gifts:</span></span><i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Contribute to a Special Needs Trust. </i>Has a <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/special-needs-individuals">Special Needs Trust</a> been created to benefit your loved one? If it is an irrevocable trust set up by a third party (usually a parent), there is no limit on the amount of funds it can hold. Those funds can be used by the trustee to pay for services the government does not provide, such as assistive technologies, transportation, etc.</span></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contribute to an ABLE account. </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also find out if an <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/index.php?go=news.news&news_id=442">ABLE account</a> exists for your loved one. Up to $15,000 may be contributed to an ABLE account each year from <i>all</i> parties, so check with the account holder.</span></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contribute to a Pooled Trust. </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If your loved one has funds for his benefit in a <a href="https://karplaw.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-pooled-trusts-can-do-for-your.html" target="_blank">pooled trust</a>, consider contributing to it. Pooled trusts combine funds from many beneficiaries while maintaining separate accounts for each beneficiary. As with the Special Needs Trust, there is no cap on the amount of money a pooled trust can hold.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><span style="color: #660000;">Gifts for the child's support staff</span></b><br />Special needs children may have an array of people assisting them, from physical therapists to tutors to bus drivers. Cash may be an appropriate gift, but so is something small that shows you acknowledge and appreciate their efforts.<br /><br /> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Toys </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Obviously selecting appropriate toys for children with special needs will depend on their capabilities. What may help and engage one child may be meaningless or frustrating for another. <a href="https://ganinfo.org/docs/gan-toy-workshop.pdf%20%20guidelines%20for%20different%20types%20of%20disabilities%20when%20selecting%20toys" target="_blank">Click here</a> for guidelines on selecting disability-specific toys.</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-12655353696082789462019-11-12T00:59:00.003-05:002019-12-01T12:49:06.307-05:00Post-it® Note Not A Valid Signature - Not On Your Estate Plan, Anyway<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">A
recent case from California demonstrates two important guidelines to make sure that your assets go to the people you want after you're gone. They are:<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Everything you do must conform precisely to the required legal formalities. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Don't procrastinate!</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Here's the case: California resident James Robert Anderson, an artist and teacher, created his <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/revocable-living-trusts" target="_blank">living trust</a> in 2004. The trust included a provision stating that among other requirements, amendments must be done via signed writing. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Anderson was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. His friend Grey Dey moved into his home in 2011 to care for him. With his health in decline, in 2014 Anderson decided to name Dey as a beneficiary of his trust. Anderson</span></span><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> contacted a lawyer who directed him to send him the trust, including the portion related to beneficiaries, with his requested changes. Anderson did so. He included with this material a post-it<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">®</span> note requesting that the lawyer turn his revisions into a formal trust amendment. But before he could sign the amendment, Anderson passed away.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">His successor trustee, Margaret Pena, turned to the court for clarification.</span></span></span></span> Were the written changes and the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">post-it<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">®</span></span></span></span></span> note sufficient? Was the amendment valid, and was Dey a beneficiary? According to the Sacramento County Superior
Court court, the answer was <i>no</i>. Despite the evidence that Anderson had intended to change his trust, the court found that the revisions were not signed as required, and the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">post-it<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">®</span></span></span></span></span> note did not substitute for a signature. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The amendment failed to modify the trust. Dey was not a beneficiary. The court's ruling was subsequently upheld by the Third District Court of Appeal. You can read the Appeals Court ruling <a href="http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/C083266.PDF" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="post-categories"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Moral of the story? Don't wait to do your estate planning. And when you do, make sure every "i" is dotted and "t" is crossed. </span></span></span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-23481056186382867302019-10-26T23:22:00.000-04:002019-10-31T22:02:30.955-04:00A Real Dogfight Over Late Painter's Estate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSOMx_9_cUmpAKgvb3zzXcEQwM0tKRAPJ48smnCCk2SMchvBsrLZLTIiCrXDfNLD06GxCApBZUpJ5-SUdF1TUPz6gEYCzU81h-av79JRZy0f17eG0ChyphenhyphenIuG6zoBMaJN405Z8hnW_uKdg/s1600/Bluedog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSOMx_9_cUmpAKgvb3zzXcEQwM0tKRAPJ48smnCCk2SMchvBsrLZLTIiCrXDfNLD06GxCApBZUpJ5-SUdF1TUPz6gEYCzU81h-av79JRZy0f17eG0ChyphenhyphenIuG6zoBMaJN405Z8hnW_uKdg/s200/Bluedog2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">You may not know the name George Rodrigue, but you probably
know his art. Rodrigue was the New Orleans-based creator of the 1984 “blue
dog” painting that has become a pop culture icon. Blue dog has appeared in one form or another in prints and advertising worldwide. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">In 2013, the 69-year-old Rodrigue died from cancer. He was
married at the time to his second wife, Wendy Wolfe, a former salesperson at his famous French
Quarter gallery. Rodrigue also left behind two grown sons from a prior marriage, Jacques
and Andre. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As is often the case when stepparents
and stepchildren are in the picture – along with a substantial sum of money – the circumstances following the artist's death were fertile ground for an estate battle. Sure enough, war broke out.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Rodrigue left behind a trust that held most of his artwork and
intellectual property rights. After his death, Jacques and Andre continued
actively managing their late father’s French Quarter
art gallery and other business interests. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wendy relocated to Santa Fe and remarried. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Wendy returned to New Orleans in 2016. According to a lawsuit Jacques and Andre
filed against their stepmother in July 2019, upon her return their stepmother re-insinuated herself into their father’s art business.
They claim she breached her fiduciary duties, including overpaying herself and
her new husband. Their lawsuit requests that she be removed from any trust management duties. The brothers say it is obvious that their father wanted them, not his widow, to manage his legacy. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">But for Wendy, that's not an obvious conclusion. In October 2019 she counter-sued her stepsons. The 74-page document filed
in Orleans Parish Civil District Court alleges that Jacques funneled profits
from the sale of his father’s art into his own pocket, not into the trust her
late husband established for her. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; line-height: 150%;">She wants Jacques removed as beneficiary
of the trust. </span>She claims too that when she was deep in
mourning, Jacques and his wife took valuable artwork from her marital home.
These valuable pieces include an orginal Rodrigue, “Three Indians,” and two Warhol
works. She is demanding their return. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">She says: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">"George and I were partners in life, art
and business for almost two decades before his untimely death in 2013... I have
continued to live out our shared vision and carry on George’s legacy.
Unfortunately, Jacques Rodrigue has led a charge to destroy this vision and
engaged in serious misconduct since his father’s death, which I have detailed
in the legal claim.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Jacques has stated that his stepmother’s wish is to “</span><span style="color: #414141; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">dismantle
our father's wishes and to solely control George Rodrigue's legacy from Santa Fe. We are
confident that the truth and evidence support our rightful stewardship of our
father's legacy just as he wanted...our actions are focused
on keeping the French Quarter gallery open and ensuring our father's art is
seen and appreciated for generations to come.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">For now, the competing heirs to Rodrigue's blue dog legacy can only sit, stay...and keep their eye on the lawsuits.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">If you have a spouse and children from prior marriages, remember that your family circumstances can create special estate planning challenges. Rely on an experienced professional to craft your estate plan. As the Rodrigue case and so many other cases demonstrate, your plan may one day face tough scrutiny. The time to prepare is now.</span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-53355981861291648702019-10-15T16:37:00.003-04:002019-10-31T21:47:36.474-04:00Reasons To Plan Your Estate, Even If You're Single And Don't Have Children<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ05yuZMyCmrPRecLQ2y9BxNEZFQJtCHztdoU1ld1g65EopC2kbYxixYqP6TFH7br7-0QxhWq36zMxcZRnvJhkYcN-pR21SnOGjVjMrE9Y5NXKTrgdlU6kpG_an7zW6ag6EBUsSuIkYQ/s1600/single+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="506" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ05yuZMyCmrPRecLQ2y9BxNEZFQJtCHztdoU1ld1g65EopC2kbYxixYqP6TFH7br7-0QxhWq36zMxcZRnvJhkYcN-pR21SnOGjVjMrE9Y5NXKTrgdlU6kpG_an7zW6ag6EBUsSuIkYQ/s320/single+woman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">More and more Americans are living on their own. The 2018 U.S. census revealed that there 110.6 million unmarried people over the age of 18. Of them, 63% have never been married; 23% are divorced; 13% are widowed. Most live alone, and 53% are women.</span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">People who are single and have no children will sometimes say about estate planning, "It's just me, who cares? Why should I bother figuring out who gets what in the end?" Actually, there are compelling reasons to bother. And not all the reasons have to do with what happens <i>after </i>you are gone. Some of them have to do with what happens during your <i>life,</i> when you certainly will care.<b> </b></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Do You Have Relatives You Care About?</b> Without an <b><a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-estate-planning" target="_blank">estate plan</a></b> identifying your beneficiaries, the state will decide
who gets your assets, giving priority to your relatives in order of their relatedness to you.
Depending on your family situation, your money could end up going to relatives
you don't care about, or even relatives you actively dislike! If you do have family members who you care about - siblings,
or nieces and nephews, say - an estate plan is essential to ensure that your assets end up in their hands.<b> </b></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b>Do You Have Causes You Care About?</b> Let's assume for the moment that you have no blood relatives or close friends to whom you want to leave an inheritance. Or maybe your relatives really don't need the money. Do you have causes that matter to you? Some of our clients leave assets to religious organizations, philanthropic organizations, their alma maters. The possibilities are endless. Knowing your assets will end up helping a cause near to your heart can be very comforting.<b> </b></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Do You Want To Be Sure The Courts Don't Take Over If You Are Incapacitated?</b> If you don't name anyone to manage your financial and health decisions if you become incapacitated, the courts may get involved and name a guardian for you. Your guardian could end up
being a stranger who knows nothing of your life, desires, values. Or worse yet, it
could end up being one of those relatives you can't stand!</span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For your peace of mind, you should establish a <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/types-of-advance-directives" target="_blank">health care surrogate, living will</a> and a <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/disability-protection" target="_blank">durable power of attorney</a> naming someone YOU choose to perform these jobs. If you do not have a relative or friend who meets the bill, you still have options. For example, one of our clients recently asked a longtime nurse at his doctor’s office to serve as his health surrogate. Your attorney or accountant may be willing to take on handling your financial decisions.</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whatever you do – <b><i>don’t do
nothing!</i> </b>See an <a href="http://www.karplaw.com/" target="_blank">estate planning attorney</a> to discuss an estate plan that works for you. </span></span></span></h1>
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Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-30047549938532659632019-09-13T09:40:00.001-04:002019-10-02T11:49:13.726-04:00Poorly Drafted Last Will and Testament May Disinherit Longtime Companion<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIV-IEh6I6hj4cdl_ynmuUA9SUAkMe83cTt3lpEiV6PYGjQ94zPP5ULoFZSiQldH645E3AsLFIF8hIGIOdGH4nx8daeRTZ9hlNgcMj7RifvGPNUvNCANXmPwRy2AE9S-TcqATB-PuRro/s1600/Greenwich+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1024" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIV-IEh6I6hj4cdl_ynmuUA9SUAkMe83cTt3lpEiV6PYGjQ94zPP5ULoFZSiQldH645E3AsLFIF8hIGIOdGH4nx8daeRTZ9hlNgcMj7RifvGPNUvNCANXmPwRy2AE9S-TcqATB-PuRro/s200/Greenwich+village.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here
is another, and surely not the last example of the perils of an ambiguously worded <b>l</b><a href="http://www.karplaw.com/page/florida-wills" target="_blank"><b>ast will and testament.</b> </a>This story was
reported in the September 7, 2019 <i>New York</i><i> Daily News.</i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">New York City psychologist Jill Morris died in 2016 of breast
cancer at age 84. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her companion of 18 years, Joan Anderson, died just twelve days later. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Among
the assets Morris left behind are two pieces of real property worth
millions: a home in Greenwich Village and a home on Long Island.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Morris' will states that Anderson is to inherit her "tangible personal property"<i> only if Anderson outlives her by at least 30 days.</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Legally speaking, real estate is not considered to be tangible personal property. The will makes no mention of requiring 30-day survival with respect to real estate.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anderson's daughter, Emlie, claims that notwithstanding the poorly worded will, Morris clearly intended for the two homes to pass to her mother.</span></span></span></span></span></span> The New York State Surrogate Court disagrees: After
weighing the issue, the court recently ruled that the property should not go to Anderson, but to the three charities Morris named as residuary beneficiaries: Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and
the National Resources Defense Council. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The judge noted that Morris and Anderson were never married; had they been, she would have been more inclined to rule in Anderson's favor. The judge also noted that Morris'
11-page will was “replete with ambiguous language and numerous errors.” </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Appallingly, the will was not a do-it-yourself job; it was drafted by Morris’
lawyer, Patricia Harold.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
court’s ruling has not gone over well with Emlie, who will get nothing from the estate if the ruling is upheld. She intends to appeal. She contends
that her mother and Morris were effectively married. They refrained from marriage for just one reason, she says: concern for the impact it would have on Morris’ psychology practice. “Nobody
is taking into account that the reason they didn’t get married is because they
were older and the stigma of being gay was such a big barrier," she said.
“They were the same as a married couple. They even went to marriage counseling,
five years in.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is yet another case underscoring the importance of getting competent legal assistance when creating your estate plan. In our office, every estate plan we create is double-checked and reviewed by two different attorneys for wording and any other potential errors. Don't allow an ambiguous estate plan to derail your intentions!</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038121347536107686.post-17787308828977143732019-09-08T15:54:00.002-04:002019-10-02T11:45:11.453-04:00Medicare Offers New Plan Finder For Open Enrollment <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-WPVZDzAuiIAPlfstw7YJCU4BTvZmjm5AvbuzeSW2umKg4uTOXZm_ytZgyC-59X696IrZVkvCPN3jrFBL2qkyJtFT52OlL5kVcGkYeHLtaFoo3-V3RVRRa81uUJNzh-xLv9O4MkAYEc/s1600/1024px-Medicare_brand.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1024" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-WPVZDzAuiIAPlfstw7YJCU4BTvZmjm5AvbuzeSW2umKg4uTOXZm_ytZgyC-59X696IrZVkvCPN3jrFBL2qkyJtFT52OlL5kVcGkYeHLtaFoo3-V3RVRRa81uUJNzh-xLv9O4MkAYEc/s320/1024px-Medicare_brand.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins October 15, 2019 and runs through December 7, 2019. During this time, you may switch to a Medicare Advantage plan or from one Medicare Advantage plan to another; and from one Medicare Part D (prescription) plan to another.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have introduced a new plan finder. It has several new features, is mobile-friendly, and is expected to make it easier for beneficiaries to research and compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. But on the downside, information that you have already entered into the old plan finder will <b><i>not</i></b> be integrated into the new finder. You will need to open up a new account and input your data from scratch. The old plan finder can still be accessed <b><a href="https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx" target="_blank">here</a></b>. The new plan finder can be accessed <b><a href="https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2019" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are happy with your current plan, you do not need to do anything during Open Enrollment. However, experts advise that it is always wise to review your current plan to make sure it continues to best serve your needs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The monthly premium for Part D programs decreases in 2020, to $30 (was $31.83).</span></span></div>
Joseph S. Karp, Certified Elder Law Attorneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07539750736784032285noreply@blogger.com0