Back to School – Three Documents Every College Student Should Have

Going back to school is right around the corner…what!?   How can that be?  However, it is true that as August approaches families will be sending kids back to school.  For those families with children starting college, this time is fraught will all sorts of emotions, checklists, logistics and large bills.  It is also often a time that parents forget that their little one, who has now grown to an adult, is treated as an adult in the eyes of the law.  Furthermore, this is also a time when ‘adult’ children are not fully independent of their parents, but their parents may not be permitted to help because the child is deemed to be an adult.  Age 18 is the age of majority for pretty much every activity, including signing contracts and making healthcare decisions.  To avoid circumstances where parents and their children are separated by legal requirements, here are three key documents every 18-year-old should have. 

General Durable Power of Attorney – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to help make financial decisions.  It allows the parents to deal with financial institutions, housing issues, such as speaking with a landlord, insurance questions, like car insurance or renter’s insurance, and generally stand in the shoes of the child.  It also allows parents to speak with the educational institutional and gain access to their child’s grades, which may be a downside for the child and he or she may hesitate to sign the financial power of attorney.  However, most other sources on the subject argue that if the parents are footing the bill for the education, the parents have a right to make certain demands and receive certain information like the child’s grades.  But, regardless of the motive, the discussion surrounding the need for a financial power of attorney should hopefully generate some thoughtful discourse between parents and children regarding how financial transactions and other legal, contractual transactions will be handled.

HIPAA – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA“) regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information.  HIPAA was intended to add a layer of protection for individuals so that their medical history or health status could not be wrongfully used against them.  However, HIPAA brought with it many more hoops to clear in order to receive medical information.  Having a familial relationship, like parent and child, does not get around the requirement that an adult child has to have given their parents access to their medical records.  Thus, if a child is in a car accident and ends up in the hospital unable to communicate and there is no HIPAA release in place, the parents may be left in the dark regarding their child’s status.  A separate HIPAA release allows the child to nominate individuals who can give and receive medical information.  It does not necessarily mean that those same people have a right to make medical decisions.  It does, however, at a minimum, allow parents to be present.  

Advance Medical Directive – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to make medical decisions.  College is a time when lots of new adventures occur, and sometimes, those adventures go awry.  There are times when accidents do indeed just happen, like car accidents or a slip and fall.  In those circumstances, if a child is at a medical center on campus or off campus, the parents have no right to find out what is going on and to help make decisions unless their child has given them access and authority to do so.  Access can be granted by way of the HIPAA release mentioned above, which could also be a part of the Advance Medical Directive.  But, actual authority to make decisions is only granted by way of an Advance Medical Directive or healthcare power of attorney, if the child is unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.  Without an Advance Medical Directive, parents may be able to be present, if a HIPAA release is in place, but have no right at the decision-making table.  Thus, similar to the financial power of attorney, the discussions surrounding the need for a healthcare power of attorney should help enlighten parents and children about medical wishes and desires.  It is also a good time to talk about extraordinary measures if a catastrophic event occurs, which may lead to conversations supporting the creation of a Living Will (a fourth document).  Although, for an 18-year-old, it may be too difficult to focus on that specific possibility.

At this back to school time when checklists are aplenty, add these key documents to the checklist.  Having these documents in place will help avoid added stress during emergent situations.  Moreover, both parents and children get to plan their journey during life’s next chapter.  #estateplanning #collegebound #backtoschool #incapacityplanning #powersofattorney @bgnthebgn

National Healthcare Decisions Day – Week Long Event for 2017

Earlier articles have talked about how you can control your final moments and also how you want to be rememberedThis year National Healthcare Decisions Day is a week long event beginning April 16 and ending on April 22.  Such recognition provides a reminder that having an advance medical directive and a living will in which you express your wishes regarding medical care, if you cannot decide, and whether you want life-prolonging procedures, are crucial components in every estate plan.  Several states and the District of Columbia have addressed end of life decision-making through death with dignity statutes.  But, regardless of your position on death with dignity statutes, end of life decision-making and advance healthcare planning is a necessary conversation to have and to share with your loved ones and National Healthcare Decisions Day (or for this year week) helps remind us of the need to begin the dialog on the subject.  @deathwdignity @NHDD #livingwill #estateplanning #endoflife #advancedirective #NHDD

Five New Year’s Resolutions for Your Estate Plan

Happy New Year!  Very often the New Year brings all sorts of ‘changes’ for individuals, particularly after having spent any time with family members and friends over the holiday season.  Here is a quick list of five resolutions to consider for your estate plan.

  1. Is it time to update your plan?  If a plan is in place, when was the last time you reviewed it? Is it simply a binder of documents you received several year ago when you finished the estate planning process and you haven’t looked at since?  Have circumstances changed that are not captured in the documents?  Who are the fiduciaries (i.e., executor, trustee, healthcare power of attorney, financial power of attorney, guardian, etc.) listed?  Are the fiduciaries still capable of serving?  Does the plan do what you want it to do?  There have been a lot of changes to estate tax laws in recent years, is your plan from before 2013?  In some cases, does ‘updating’ your plan, actually mean finishing the process?  Or does it mean starting the process so that your theoretical plan is memorialized? 
  2.  Are there beneficiary designations?  When was the last time you checked beneficiary designations on life insurance, retirement accounts (i.e., 401(k), IRAs, 403(b), 457, etc.) and annuities?  What about any payable on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD) designations you have on bank accounts or brokerage accounts…do those designations reflect your wishes?  For government employees, are beneficiary designations up-to-date on your Federal, state or local benefits? 
  3. Families come in all shapes and sizes -Family Fiduciaries.  Are you named as a fiduciary in any family member’s or friend’s plan?  Have you touched base with that person recently to see how they are doing both health-wise and financially?  Do you understand what your role is as the fiduciary?  Do you know the family member’s or friend’s goals and objectives?  Are you able to still serve, that is, are you distracted by a health event or financial crisis and perhaps you should not take the role?  Have you considered options for a care manager if you are caring for an elderly family member or friend? How about looking at assisted living or skilled nursing or home health aides, if the circumstances warrant such considerations? 
  4. Are you charitably inclined?  Do you have a charitable giving plan for this year? For future years? For at your death?  Have you researched your options including direct giving, donor advised funds, private foundations and/or charitable trusts?  Is there a planned gift that you would like to consider?  Is now the time to investigate annual giving? 
  5. Succession planning occurs at many levels.  Who will be in charge of any business whether it is a limited liability company, partnership or corporation?  Are shareholders’ agreements and operating agreements up-to-date?  And beyond a business interest, who will be in charge of your pets?  Are there monies set aside for their care?  What about digital assets?  Have you ensured a smooth transition of online accounts to a successor?  What about your tangible personal property?  Is there an inventory? Appraisals? Designated recipients?

True, there are a lot of questions and not a lot of answers here, but that is the planning process.  One has to begin with the questions to reach the answers.  Working with a professional advisor can both provide you with the guidance needed to navigate these questions and ensure that you complete the process.  #planyourjourney #lifeplanning #legacyplanning #estateplanning @bgnthebgn

District of Columbia Passes Death with Dignity Act

flowers-4As had been previously discussed, the District of Columbia was considering passing its form of the Death with Dignity Act (the “Act”) that is modeled after the Oregon law.  The D.C. Council, in a 11 to 2 decision, voted in favor of the bill.  A final vote must be held before the end of the year.  Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has the ability to veto the bill, but in recent comments she indicated that she would not veto the bill and it would become law.  Given D.C.’s status of not being a state, Congress will still have the ability to review and overturn the bill should it become law.

The Act allows a terminally ill individual who has received a prognosis of less than six months to request and receive medication that would end life.  The individual must make two oral requests separated by at least 15 days to his or her physician.  A written request must also be made before the second oral request is made and at least 48 hours must pass before the medication is received.  The written request must be witnessed by two individuals who can attest that the decision to end life is voluntary.  One of the witnesses has to be entirely independent, that is, not related or subordinate in some fashion.  The individual has to be able to take the medication on their own without any help from medical professionals, caretakers, home healthcare aides, family or friends.  Finally, the individual must be a resident of the District of Columbia.  If the bill survives the second vote by the D.C. Council and Congressional review, D.C. will join Oregon, Washington, Vermont and California in enacting a death with dignity law.  #endoflife #estateplanning #advancedirective #livingwill @deathwidignity @bgnthebgn

District of Columbia Considers Death with Dignity Act

flowers-3The District of Columbia is considering enacting the Death with Dignity Act (the “Act”) that would allow terminally ill individuals with six months or less to live the ability to receive a lethal dose of medication and end their life.  Several procedural steps lie ahead for the Act now that the D.C. Council has voted to place the Act on the legislative agenda for an upcoming meeting.  However, it is unclear whether there is sufficient support for the Act to be made into law.  Arguments in favor of the Act revolve around giving an individual control over how and when they choose to die, but advocates against the Act are concerned that individuals’ lives will be prematurely terminated. 

The issue once again raises the importance of planning.  Planning for incapacity and planning for death.   Both sides of the death with dignity argument seem to have a common thread involving control, which is exactly what planning gives you.  Planning gives you control over who is in charge of your medical decisions when you are not able to make those decisions. Planning gives you control of whether you want life-prolonging procedures when doctors have certified that nothing more can be done except provide comfort care.  Planning gives you control of how you want to be remembered in those final moments.  Planning gives your family members peace of mind to know that they are truly abiding by your wishes, which in turn may make them feel as if they are in control of the situation.  Planning gives your family time to prepare for a life without you in it and to try to control the emotional turmoil that realization creates.  Ultimately, planning is a gift to yourself to know that that particular item on a lengthy checklist can be crossed off so that you can enjoy life knowing that your end of life is in the best order you can create.  So, regardless of which side of the death with dignity argument you fall, think of the planning that can be done to control your death with dignity. #endoflife #estateplanning #advancedirective #livingwill @deathwdignity @NHDD @bgnthebgn

October is National Special Needs Law Month

children-hugThe National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”) has designated October to be National Special Needs Law Month in an effort to educate individuals with disabilities, families and caregivers about what is encompassed in the realm of special needs.  For example, topics such as guardianship, conservatorship, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid and special education will be addressed by professional advisors throughout the country.  Local resources such as Commonwealth Community Trust and The Arc of Northern Virginia and more national resources such as Special Needs Alliance may hold special awareness events and have resources available for review.  Designating a month is an opportunity for individuals with disabilities, families and caregivers to develop their knowledge of available options and emphasizes the importance of speaking with the appropriate professional advisors.  Below is a selection of earlier articles discussing a few topics involving special needs planning.  #specialneeds #specialneedsplanning #estateplanning @bgnthebgn

The Able Act – An Additional Resource for Families and Advisors

The Able Act – Proposed Legislation Will Modify Certain Provisions

How Divorce Can Impact Your Estate Plan – Special Needs

Changes to Virginia Laws Impacting Seniors and the Disabled

Changes to Maryland Laws Impacting Seniors and the Disabled

Special Needs Trust Fairness Act

Changes to Maryland Laws Impacting Estate Planning and Elder Law

courthouseOn October 1st (unless otherwise noted) a number of new laws will take effect in Maryland that may have an impact on you or those with whom you work.  Below is a summary of a few key pieces of legislation of which you should be aware.

HB 507 – Maryland Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act:  This Act authorizes a person with digital assets to direct the disclosure of information relating to those assets in certain circumstances.  A previous Article provides the details.

HB 541 – Upon divorce or annulment, certain provisions of a revocable trust  that relate to the spouse will be revoked.  This new statute is comparable to what has been established for wills under Section 4-105(4) of the Estates and Trust Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

HB 887 – Section 14.5-303 of the Estates and Trusts Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland is amended to add a new subsection (7) allowing for virtual representation of a minor, incapacitated, unborn or unknown individual, by a grandparent or more remote ancestor, provided there is no conflict of interest.  In addition, Section 14.5-304 is added to the Estates and Trusts Article permitting anyone to represent a minor, incapacitated, unborn or unknown individual, provided there is a ‘substantially identical interest’ and no conflict of interest exists.  The purpose is to avoid having to appoint a guardian ad litem in a court proceeding involving trusts.

HB 888 – The new statute will allow trustees and beneficiaries to enter into a binding settlement agreement relating to the administration of a trust without having to involve the court.  The actions that can be agreed upon within a non-judicial settlement agreement by the trustees and beneficiaries must be those that a court could have approved.  For example, a non-judicial settlement agreement could address interpretation or construction of terms of the trust, approval of an accounting or trustee succession.

HB 431 – Requires the establishment of the Maryland ABLE Program to allow for savings accounts similar to 529 Plan accounts to be created for a person under a disability.  This was effective as of July 1, 2016.  Two previous articles discussed the ABLE Program. 

HB 718 – Asset Recovery for Exploited Seniors Act: Allows for a civil action to be brought for damages against a person who knowingly and willfully takes from another, who is at least 68 years old, his or her assets.  A criminal conviction is not necessary before bringing the civil action.

HB 1385 – If an individual does not have a health care directive, ‘any authentic expression’ made by such person, who is deemed to be competent, regarding his or her wishes and desires about their health care ‘shall be considered.’

#elderlaw #estateplanning #healthcare #Marylandlaw #incapacityplanning #specialneeds #digitalassets @bgnthebgn

Facing a Tough Diagnosis – Four Lessons of Gene Wilder

flowers-2With Gene Wilder’s death, the family released a statement that revealed to the world that Gene Wilder had died due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  The family also stated that Wilder had not wanted to reveal his diagnosis earlier and risk “one less smile in the world.”  In releasing the statement as they did, the family has provided us with a few valuable lessons about planning. 

  1. What should ‘the public’ know?  From the statement, it seems clear that in receiving an irreversible diagnosis, Wilder’s family talked about how to handle the news both publicly and privately.  Families that have received terrible news of a terminal or debilitating illness are aware of the difficulties surrounding such information.  Questions about who should be notified are common as well as discussion regarding how much information should be disclosed.  In addition, the ‘public’ for each person is different.  This means for some only immediate family members while friends, neighbors and colleagues have a less detailed picture.  Immediate family may include certain close friends and may very specifically exclude others.  What about professional advisors?  How much information should they have?  Each of us has various circles and those circles have to be evaluated to determine who should know and what should be known, which is important to clarify to avoid confusion in the dissemination of information.
  2. What is the care plan?   Certainly from a medical perspective there is a prognosis and then treatment plans that are outlined with various degrees of outcomes and complications.  But what about the plan to care for minor children, if necessary?  Or a caregiver spouse or partner?  Who are or will be the caregivers?  Has respite care been discussed for those caregivers?  Are there modifications to a residence that are needed?  What about access to financial information? Should such access be limited or restricted?  Has there been discussion about involving a care manager?  These are just a few of the questions to consider to determining the plan of action.
  3. Your final moments.  Are friends and family present?  Is music played?  Is a spiritual leader, such as a priest, rabbi or pastor present?  Will the final moments be at home, wherever that may be at the time?  The final moments are not only for the person dying, but the family and friends who are part of that passing.  Discussions such as these are key in determining end of life care
  4. How to be remembered?  An earlier article outlined six questions to ask surrounding the details of how you want to be remembered.  Providing some information about wishes and desires regarding a funeral or service is a relief for family members because decision-making at this difficult is clouded by emotions and shouldn’t be overshadowed with the thought of “Is this really what was wanted?”

Thus, as many of us remember Gene Wilder and the various roles he played in the movies, we can also pause to reflect on how we would face such tough diagnosis with our family, and when the time comes, be prepared to have the important conversations. #GeneWilder #incapacityplanning #estateplanning #advancemedicaldirective #livingwill @bgnthebgn

Three Key Documents Every College Age Child Needs to Sign

ClassroomThe middle of August is a time when families look towards Fall sports, cooler temperatures and the kids going back to school.  For those families with children starting college, this time is fraught will all sorts of emotions, checklists, logistics and large bills.  It is also often a time that parents forget that their little one, who has now grown to an adult, is treated as an adult in the eyes of the law.  Moreover, this is also a time when adult children are not yet entirely independent of their parents, but their parents may not be permitted to help because the child is deemed to be an adult.  Age 18 is the age of majority for pretty much every activity, including signing contracts and making healthcare decisions.  Thus, to avoid circumstances where parents and their children are separated by legal requirements, here are three key documents every 18-year-old should have. 

General Durable Power of Attorney – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to help make financial decisions.  It allows the parents to deal with financial institutions, housing issues, such as speaking with a landlord, insurance questions, like car insurance or renter’s insurance, and generally stand in the shoes of the child, if the child is unable to act.  It also allows parents to speak with the educational institutional, which typically means that grades can be accessed.  This may be a downside for the child and he or she may hesitate to sign the financial power of attorney.  However, most other sources on the subject argue that if the parents are footing the bill for the education, the parents have a right to make certain demands and receive certain information like the child’s grades.  But, regardless of the motive, the discussion surrounding the need for a financial power of attorney should hopefully generate some thoughtful discourse between parents and children regarding how financial transactions and other legal, contractual transactions will be handled.

HIPAA – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA“) regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information.  HIPAA was intended to add a layer of protection for individuals so that their medical history or health status could not be wrongfully used against them.  However, HIPAA brought with it many more hoops to clear in order to receive medical information.  Having a familial relationship, like parent and child, does not get around the requirement that a child has to have given their parents access to their medical records.  So, if a child is in a car accident and ends up in the hospital unable to communicate, if there is no HIPAA release in place, the parents may be left in the dark regarding their child’s status.  A separate HIPAA release allows the child to nominate individuals who can give and receive medical information.  It does not necessarily mean that those same people have a right to make medical decisions.  However, at a minimum, it allows parents to be present.  

Advance Medical Directive – This document permits the child to name his or her parents to make medical decisions.  College is a time when lots of new adventures occur, and sometimes, those adventures go awry.  There are times when accidents do indeed just happen, like car accidents or a slip and fall.  In those circumstances, if a child is at a medical center on campus or off campus, the parents have no right to find out what is going on and to help make decisions unless their child has given them access and authority to do so.  Access can be granted by way of the HIPAA release mentioned above, which could also be a part of the Advance Medical Directive.  But, actual authority to make decisions is only granted by way of a Advance Medical Directive or healthcare power of attorney, if the child is unable to communicate.  Without it, parents may be able to be present, if a HIPAA release is in place, but have no right at the decision-making table.  Thus, similar to the financial power of attorney, the discussions surrounding the need for a healthcare power of attorney should help enlighten parents and children about medical wishes and desires.  It is also a good time to talk about extraordinary measures if a catastrophic event occurs, which may lead to conversations supporting the creation of a Living Will (a fourth document).  Although, for an 18-year-old, it may be too difficult to focus on that specific possibility.

So, if you are part of a family with college bound children, having these key documents in place will help avoid added stress during emergent situations, which is when these documents are most likely necessary.  Moreover, both parents and children get to plan their journey during life’s next chapter.  Therefore, speak with your professional advisor about getting these important documents in place, and if your child has already left, Homecoming, Fall break and Thanksgiving are right around the corner!  #estateplanning #collegebound #incapacityplanning #powersofattorney @bgnthebgn