Golden Law Center

08/14/2021

I’ll be on an upcoming podcast, hosted by Kelly Philips Erb, editor for Bloomberg Tax & Accounting. We’ll talk about the legal and ethical issues raised by the Britney Spears guardianship case, what is legal capacity, and how properly drafted estate planning documents might have prevented the whole mess.

If you would like to listen to the single episode, keep an eye on the listings at https://www.taxgirl.com/taxgirl-podcast/podcast-episode-guide-season-2/ For information about how to subscribe to the podcast, please check out https://www.taxgirl.com/taxgirl-podcast/podcast-subscription/

Episodes come out each Tuesday. You can listen directly from the home page at www.taxgirl.com or subscribe using your favorite listening app or platform. Podcast Platform Links Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K592S9Z/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_RXXRT7QKQ41GEFJ4HWFD Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us...

02/22/2021

Are you a great legal assistant with both technical chops and dedication to customer service? If so, I want to meet you! Please see my post at Indeed.

Find your next great career opportunity at Golden Law Center

09/03/2020

Persons who deal with mental health and substance abuse challenges have been heavily impacted by the Covid lockdown. Since March, 2020, the rate for relapses and overdoses has increased by 30%.

If you, a friend, or a loved one are struggling with the strain isolation has caused you, call the National Alliance on Mental Health's 24/7 helpline: 800-950-6264.

You don't have to go through this alone.

08/06/2020

Life, love and Alzheimer's, beautifully told.

Chuck Williams has been married to his wife, Sue, for 66 years and has been her primary caregiver since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago. So he wasn't about to let a tractor accident that landed him in the hospital keep him away from her.

06/25/2020

There’s a great axiom we should embrace: never let a good crisis go to waste. We are in the middle of a crisis with no foreseeable end, so let’s use the opportunity to reinvent how we care for our most vulnerable elders.

Thousands of elders in nursing homes have died so far, and probably thousands more will. One major-yet-not-talked about factor is the physical design of the buildings themselves. Architecturally speaking, the facilities are designed much more for the staff than the residents. Shared rooms, long hallways with little ability to set up isolation units, and poor sanitation controls have allowed Covid-19 to spread like wildfire. Even in the best of times, the environment does little to enrich lives, leaving people who had active, fulfilling lives to wait in psychological and emotional isolation until they succumb.

We can do better. We must do better.

Even before COVID, its dynamics were deeply flawed. But there are people thinking about how to fix it.

04/13/2020

Are you concerned that you might not receive your $1,200 Economic Impact Payment check because you did not file a tax return?

The IRS has set up a web page for US citizens and permanent residents who do not usually pay taxes to register for those payments. Eligible applicants are:

US citizens or have permanent resident status;

Had gross income not more than $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples) for 2019; and

Were not otherwise required to file a federal income tax return for 2019, and didn't plan to.

If you receive Social Security, SSDI or SSI and do not need to file a tax return, go to the IRS web site below and get what you're owed!

Steps to receive the Economic Impact Payment if you haven't filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019, and aren't receiving Social Security, SS Disability Income or Railroad Retirement benefits. This payment is also referred to as "stimulus checks" or "coronavirus relief."

02/13/2020

Phone scammers know no bottom. People with early cognitive impairment whose discernment may be slipping are especially vulnerable. Make sure you're up-to-date on how best to protect yourself and loved ones. The web site has a lot of good information on the topic. https://l.facebook.com

According to the FBI, last year in Massachusetts, 1,200 people over the age of 60 lost more than $11 million to scammers.

02/02/2020

It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped. --

Hubert Humphrey

U.S. already has among strictest disability benefits eligibility standards in the world, writes Rebecca Vallas with the Center for American Progress

11/11/2019

I could not have written a better article on how to not leave a mess for your children. The only thing I would have added is that not leaving a mess behind is also important if you are no longer able to manage your affairs while you are still living.

One of the essential things to do before you die is to prepare a folder.

10/28/2019

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, this is a great time to create or update your estate plan!

The first step is to schedule an initial consultation (generally 1.5 to 2 hours) to talk about you, your family, your goals and concerns. We'll then explore your options and create an outline for your plan. Call my office before November 15, 2019 to book your appointment and receive a 50% discount of the cost of your initial appointment -- a value of $375!

Call us at 781-433-8665 for more details and to schedule your appointment.

07/11/2019

Too many parents are at risk of harm because their they have more than $2,000 in the bank and cannot qualify for Medicaid. Too many women in their 50s and 60s will find themselves impoverished because of the loss of income that would otherwise be reported to Social Security. Both parents and daughters are at risk of harm because of the physical and psychological exhaustion associated with being a full-time caregiver.

We can do better.

Millions of middle-aged women struggle to care for ailing older relatives, and the crisis is only getting worse. So why is no one talking about it?

04/07/2019

I love making a difference in my clients' lives.

Updated: As the U.S. population continues to get older, more attorneys are entering the field of elder law or expanding their practice to provide elder law services.