Living or revocable trusts are effective estate planning tools that can avoid the hassle and cost of probate and ease the transition of assets after the death of a grantor. Clients often think that because their trust contains some, if not all, of their assets, that they only need a living trust to direct distribution…
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Does a Health Care Power of Attorney cover Medicare?
Not necessarily. Medicare due to its privacy notice has its own form they want completed. A competent person can complete the form called 1-800-MEDICARE AUTHORIZATION to Disclose Personal Health Information. This allows the named agent to talk with Medicare, research, choose coverage, handle claims and file an appeal. Its best not to limit the information…
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When is an ancillary estate required in probate court?
When a decedent owned real property in another county of South Carolina or another state other than the state in which probate proceedings have been initiated, it will usually be necessary to institute separate probate proceedings to arrange for the administration of the property in both counties and/or states. The proceedings in the primary state,…
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How do lawyers accommodate clients with disabilities?
I will answer this question in two ways. First, in 1980 I worked at the Maryland School for the Deaf which had just started mainstreaming elementary children. Many of the children came from hearing families. Students and teachers rose to the challenge. I was also a volunteer interpreter for one mainstreamed child and her deaf…
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