When someone has filed a petition to the probate court, they are asking for the court to do something. After the petition is filed, there’s a notice and hearing, which is followed by the court making a ruling. Once the court speaks, the ruling and direction taken going forward is put down on a form [...]
The Petition to Allow Account is quite the resourceful form. This form makes a request of the court to allow the account that is being submitted. What makes it so resourceful is that it can also be used in a variety of contexts. For example, this same form can be used in a deceased probate [...]
Trust is a word with multiple meanings. We all know trust means that you have firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone else. Trust also has a legal definition, which pertains to an arrangement whereby a person (the trustee) holds an asset such as property or money for the benefit of [...]
Written by Darren Findling Utilizing the Spend Down Option to Maintain SSI and/or Medicaid Eligibility People with special health care needs and limited funds of their own often rely on public benefits for their well-being. Some of the most common public benefits include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. To be eligible for SSI and/or [...]
Special Needs Trusts were made to provide additional income for individuals with special needs, such as autism. This income is used to improve the individual’s quality of life. With April being autism awareness month, it’s a good time to look at some of the things a Special Needs Trust can cover. For parents and caregivers, [...]
Written by Andrew Lorelli Supplemental Needs Trusts (“SNTs”, also called Special Needs Trusts) are a common estate planning tool. SNTs are for people who receive means-tested government benefits, as well as those who also may be the beneficiaries of an estate or the recipient of settlement funds after a lawsuit. SNTs are designed to allow [...]
New Veterans Administration Rules Released in 2018 The new rules will impact the needs-based benefits for veterans and surviving spouses. Clarification of commonly confusing areas like evaluating net worth, asset transfers, and income exclusions were the focus of the new rules. The Veterans Administration Final Rule, as it’s being called, created a new net worth [...]
TITLE: Associate Attorney The Probate Pro (www.theprobatepro.com), a division of the Darren Findling Law Firm, a growing probate, trust administration, and estate planning law firm in downtown Royal Oak seeks an associate level attorney. This attorney should have the ability to communicate and work effectively with clients and firm personnel. One must be comfortable working [...]
Choosing a Trustee – Why is this important again? I’ve admittedly put more thought into what kind of toothpaste I should buy than who I would appoint as my Trustee. While I am young, I know that one day, hopefully a long time from now, who I pick will become very important. Your family could [...]
As the Baby-Boomer generation ages, many of them do not have someone in their lives to act as a guardian or conservator if the need arises. Que the professionals! In these types of cases, it is not uncommon for attorneys or social workers to be appointed for these roles, although a professional guardian can be [...]
