Blog: Florida Elder Law
2014: New Rules; New New Year’s Resolutions!
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2014 2013 introduced significant legal and social developments in our country such as: the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Windsor resulting in federal rights being available to married same sex couples individuals delaying their retirement age due to increased life expectancies, weakened retirement systems and poor financial planning and states like…
Pet Trusts
Your Beloved Pet Deserves a Pet Trust Recently, more people are including their pets in their estate plan. In 2012 a Tennessee resident died and provided for the future care of his two casts in his Last Will & Testament. He has left $250,000.00 and his home to Frisco and Jake. The monies that remain after…
Lessons I Learned from my Father
My father, Howard Schneider, died on November 16, 2013. When I graduated law school my father told me that the experience would serve me well and he was right. My father’s legacy is his work ethic, the importance of one’s character and credibility, and the bravery he exhibited living with Parkinson’s. I am grateful for his legacy as it…
Medicaid Protections Should Be Available To Same-Sex Married Couples
Several major federal agencies have announced that they are now providing federal benefits to same-sex legally married couples. Most recently, the Internal Revenue Service announced that same-sex legally married couples would receive all federal tax rights and responsibilities as provided to heterosexual couples Click here for I.R.S. Release. The best news is that these rights…
U.S. Treasury recognizes Same Sex Marriage based on ‘Place of Celebration’
FINALLY – I.R.S. RECOGNIZES SAME-SEX MARRIAGES FOR TAX PURPOSES While there have been many positive developments for the LGBT community since the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Windsor on June 26, 2013, I think the most notable is the U.S. Treasury’s press release of August 29, 2013. There is no more uncertainty when it…
LGBT Federal Employee Benefits Deadline – File Today for Your Benefits
Deadline: File Today for Your LGBT Federal Employee Benefits As a result of the United States Supreme Court’s opinion in Windsor, the Office of Personnel Management announced on July 3, 2013 that same-sex spouses and children of married LGBT federal employees and annuitants will now be eligible for federal benefits (if married prior to June 26,…
PA Judge Declares LGBT Surviving Spouse Entitled to Pension Death Benefit
Bob Dylan sang ‘the times they are a changing.’ Now is definitely one of those times. Since the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Windsor (holding that the Defense of Marriage Act violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution and is unconstitutional) there has been change afoot to provide federal rights to…
Personal Care Agreements and Medicaid Planning
Personal Care Agreements: Don’t Try This Without An Elder Law Attorney You might have received a flyer or, seen a newspaper ad advertising Medicaid planning for a very low fee. It catches your eye. You maybe go so far as to meet with the person (a non-attorney) and they tell you “Yes. We can prepare…
United States Supreme Court Rules Doma Unconstitutional!
Hot Off The Press – Scotus Rules – It’s Official At 10:15 a.m. today the United States Supreme Court published its opinion in U.S. v. Windsor ruling that “DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.” It is a historic day in our nation’s…
June is Gay Pride Month
On Thursday June 6, 2013 I presented at The Pride Center in Wilton Manors for National Gay Pride Month. I spoke about important legal developments for the LGBT community. In case you were not able to attend here’s a recap: February 2013 The Department of Defense issues a memo stating that military departments will now…
