Living into your eighties is no longer uncommon. With the doubling of life expectancy since the Industrial Revolution, we have achieved what the New York Times has described as the "greatest miracle in the history of our species." Today the average life expectancy is nearly 80 years. According to the data compiled by the Social Security Administration, a 65 year old male today can expect to live nearly two more decades until age 84, while a 65 year old woman can expect to liv

Probate is the legal process by which the estate of a deceased person is settled. Regardless if someone dies with or without a will, probate is generally required when a person dies owning assets that do not have either a co-owner or a named beneficiary. Probate administration generally involves identifying the probate assets of the decedent, paying the decedent’s debts, taxes and other expenses, then distributing the remaining assets to the devisees or heirs. If a person d

As the founder of the Elder and Estate Planning Law Firm, I specialize in helping Michigan families protect their estates. Whether you are worried about nursing home expenses that average nearly $9,000.00 per month, assisted living expenses, having your estate avoid probate court or planning for a special needs child or grandchild, I have helped thousands of families obtain peace of mind when faced with such issues. Often this involves qualifying for Medicaid or VA benefits,

Millions of older adults fall prey to financial scams each year. Financial abuse currently affects about 20% of Americans age 65 or older and costs them approximately $3 billion per year. In fact, it has become so widespread that The Wall Street Journal has called it an “epidemic.” Some of the more common scams include: 1. The grandparent scam. A con artist telephones a loved one pretending to be a grandchild in the midst of a crisis, such as being jailed or kidnapped. The “g