Dallas Elder Law Attorney

Michael speaks on powers of attorney and the steps to revoke one when an agent goes rogue.

Although Paid on Death accounts are sometimes useful, this show talked about the negative things that occur were probably not thought by the account owner that could go wrong with only a beneficiary designation.

Michael speaks on a case where an online or store-bought Will was purchased and the problems that occur as a result.

Michael speaks on the perils that a family faced when dad had no Will, mom had a defective will, options to the will, and Medicaid estate recovery issues.

Michael speaks on some of the benefits to seniors under the American Rescue Plan (besides stimulus) and the continuing problems with Aretha Franklin’s estate since there was no signed Will

Will harry & Meghan’s interview create a royal mess of her majesty’s estate plan – or just a royal pain?

Michael Cohen talks about 7 different situations in which a trust could be used as a beneficiary of a retirement account to protect an individual.

Michael Cohen discusses the problems of a client who prepared a deed without the advice of an attorney.

Larry King’s Will being Contested | 2.20.21 by Michael Cohen

Use of Small Estate Affidavits when there is no Will | 2.13.21 by Michael Cohen

7 Misconceptions in Medicaid Planning | 2.6.21 by Michael Cohen

Probating a Copy of a Will | 1.30.21 by Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen talks about a success story in which a long-term care (nursing home) Medicaid applicant (to have the government assist in pay for cost of care) achieved Medicaid eligibility notwithstanding a transfer to a child (a penalized event if within 5 years if the child didn’t give the money back) even though the child had spent the funds and did not have means to give the gifted funds back.

‘TIL DEATH DO US PART, SURVIVING SPOUSE PROTECTIONS | 1.16.21 by Michael Cohen

WHAT CAN GO WRONG WHEN YOU DON'T PLAN FOR YOUR ESTATE | 1.2.21 by Michael Cohen

Many trusts indicate that the trustee is entitled to “reasonable compensation”.  Also, unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise, the trustee is entitled to “reasonable compensation” from the trust for acting as trustee under Texas law but there is no guidance as to “reasonable compensation”.

Tune in where Michael talks about how a Ladybird deed is usually better than a transfer of death deed.

Join Michael for this weeks podcast where he talks about changes in the law regarding charitable giving for year 2020 due to the CARES act (due to the pandemic), gifting of appreciated assets to charity to avoid capital gains tax, gifting limits annually and during lifetime, and penalties for gifting within a loopback period if applying for public benefits such as Medicaid.

Micheal discusses that the Executor’s duties in handling the claims of creditors, notices that must be given and a permissive notice in addition to sometimes beneficiaries are protected if there is beneficiary designation (and sometimes they are not) , how to handle credit card liabilities, which student loans are forgiven and some that are not, in addition to the responsibility of a spouse of payment of debts of their deceased spouse.

Lets talk about what you should think about when it comes to Estate Planning going into 2021.