Posted on: December 23, 2024
The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to provide guidelines to the healthcare industry for protecting patient information and preserving privacy. This is usually a nonissue for minors because parents, as legal guardians, generally have access to their children’s medical information, make most of their medical decisions, and pay […]
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Posted on: December 19, 2024
Being an adult comes with freedom and responsibility. You can now make important decisions independently without consulting your parents or guardians. While this may feel incredibly liberating, it is not without some scary moments. As an adult, you are in charge of yourself. If you cannot act on your own behalf, no one can automatically […]
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Posted on: December 16, 2024
Most people understand that having an estate plan benefits them and their loved ones. However, many individuals do not initiate the estate planning process because they do not fully understand the nuances of foundational estate planning tools such as a will and a trust and the full implications of dying intestate - without either in […]
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Posted on: December 12, 2024
Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, but the settling of his estate continues more than 15 years after his death due to a lingering tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other legal challenges, including a lawsuit brought by his mother over a deal to sell part of his music rights to Sony […]
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Posted on: December 9, 2024
Once you have been appointed the executor or personal representative of a deceased loved one's probate estate, or when you step in as the successor trustee of the loved one's trust, one of the first things you should do is to notify the post office of the death and ask them to forward the deceased […]
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Posted on: December 5, 2024
“No, I am your father.” This iconic line is a testament to the enduring legacy of James Earl Jones. These words, uttered by James Earl Jones in his voice-over role as Darth Vader, are indelible in the minds of Star Wars fans. Jones is also well known for voicing Mufasa in The Lion King and […]
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Posted on: December 2, 2024
In an estate plan, life insurance can be used as a source of immediate liquidity for beneficiaries by offering a tax-free, lump-sum payment upon the insured’s death. For many, relying on life insurance is essential to ensure financial security for their loved ones. About half of Americans have a life insurance policy. People purchase life […]
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Posted on: November 28, 2024
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, there were more than 670,000 divorces[1] and more than 2 million marriages in 2022. Divorce is an ordinary life event that many Americans face during their lifetime. Some states have laws that automatically end an ex-spouse’s appointment as a decision-maker in their spouse’s estate plan […]
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Posted on: November 25, 2024
A special needs trust (SNT) allows an individual to provide for a disabled beneficiary without jeopardizing the beneficiary’s eligibility for needs-based government benefits. Enriching life with an SNT can offer peace of mind and financial security. SNT funds can generally be used to pay for almost anything outside the essential support programs such as Supplemental […]
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