On May 8, 2014, Senator Patty Murray from Washington sponsored the Social Security and Marriage Equality Act of 2014 (SAME). The objective of the bill (s. 2305) is to amend the Social Security Act so that same-sex married couples will be entitled to social security benefits based on place of celebration and not place of residence…

Many people are drawn to live and work in Florida because of its beautiful weather. Other people are drawn to Florida because it has no state income tax. If you are a married same-sex couple (SSC) or, have a domestic partnership or civil union there are several important real estate ownership issues you should consider…

Veteran’s Aid & Attendance Income Should Not Impede Medicaid Eligibility If you, your spouse or your parent have recently qualified for a VA Improved Pension (VAIP) read about pension benefits and are also applying for or receiving Medicaid assistance you need to know your rights. A portion of the benefit may represent Aid & Attendance (A&A)…

I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel at The Annual Southeast Florida Alzheimer’s Education Conference on May 15, 2014 at Florida International University. Click here for more information about the SE Florida Alzheimer’s Association. The panel included David Treece, Financial Advisor https://www.treecefinancialgroup.com/, Juan Ceballos an insurance counselor helping Florida consumers with the new Medicaid Managed Care…

The death of a loved one is a life-changing event filled with emotion and can be traumatic.  Is there anything that can help ease the pain and promote the healing process? Absolutely – proper advance legal planning can make all the difference. Imagine that someone close to you decided to write their own Last Will…

National Healthcare Decisions Day Affects Everyone Including the LGBT Community Last night I had the pleasure of listening to and speaking with Nadine Smith the CEO of Equality Florida at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale in observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day. Nadine is an inspiring and motivating advocate for all people. She helped…

Divorce can take its toll on a person’s physical, emotional, mental and financial well-being. Even after the divorce is final, moving forward and starting anew can seem daunting especially when there are minor children of the marriage. While keeping up the daily routines of preparing the family for school, going to work, team sports and household chores, it is easy…

In the past ten to fifteen years medical technology has changed in leaps and bounds.  The law has not necessarily kept pace with new technological developments.  No clearer example can be found than the inheritance rights of children conceived through in vitro fertilization. More people are conceiving children with medical assistance than ever before, thanks…

Published in NAELA Journal By Stephanie L. Schneider, CELA, and Lara Pietrzak On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its written opinion on United States v. Windsor and held that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. While the ruling creates entitlement of same-sex married couples to receive federal…

STOP! DON’T DISINHERIT YOUR SPOUSE JUST BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE LONG-TERM CARE Today we see more chronic illnesses (i.e. Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; dementia) that are causing people to provide care or seek long-term care services for an incapacitated spouse.  Chronic illness can trigger the fear of impoverishment or the fear of outliving one’s money.  When…