Tag Archives: caregiver

Estate Planning

Women’s Estate Planning Issues

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You might be surprised to learn that men and women often have different estate planning needs and perspectives. This blog will focus on the needs and goals of females. Factors such as whether the woman is married, has children or is employed can make a significant difference in her estate planning needs. Thus, it is imperative that women take an active role in estate planning, which means talking to the attorney and asking your own questions.

The following a three considerations for women when it comes to their estate planning:

  • In general, females are the caregivers. In many families, the wife is the primary caregiver for not only the children, but also for elderly parents and in-laws. As a result, the estate planning issues that women are typically focused on are appointing a guardian for their minor children or because they want to protect their older relatives by creating a trust or through the use of a power of attorney.
  • Although it should no longer be assumed that men are the breadwinner for their families, for many families it is still the case. If this is your situation, you could lose your income stream if your spouse dies or becomes incapacitated. It is important for couples to ensure that both spouses have adequate life insurance policies.
  • Studies have shown that women generally live longer than men. This means that you will be left to handle your spouse’s estate and all related matters such as taxes. Will you have sufficient retirement savings to support you and your loved ones? Remember, creating an estate plan is not only about the distribution of assets, but also about insuring that you will have property and money to support you throughout your life.

If you are interested in learning more about the unique issues that are important in your estate plan, contact us to schedule an appointment. Let us help you create a plan that will protect you and the most important people in your life.

The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.

Asset Protection, Estate Planning

How to Prevent Financial Abuse of Senior Citizens

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Because many senior citizens are particularly reliant on others, they are vulnerable to becoming the victim of financial abuse and scams. If you suspect a relative, caregiver or third-party of taking advantage of your loved one, it is important to contact one of our experienced elder law attorneys for assistance.

Below are a few tips on how to prevent a senior citizen from becoming a victim of financial abuse:

  • Make sure that more than one family member is actively involved in caring for the senior and is helping with their finances
  • Avoid having money or checks delivered to your loved ones’ home – have the funds deposited directly into his or her bank account
  • Help make sure the elderly individual stays involved in community activities as much as possible
  • If your loved one has a caregiver that is not a family member or friend, conduct a thorough investigation (including checking references) of the caregiver’s history
  • Monitor the use of funds for or by any caregivers. It’s not uncommon for a caregiver to use ATM cards or credit cards to assist the family member, but it’s a prime source of financial abuse – where the caregiver withdraws funds and continually explains it was for meals or clothing or a myriad of needs that are not traceable without receipts
  • Watch out for disappearing jewelry or other property

The above tips are not a guarantee that your loved one will not be subjected to financial abuse or become the victim of a scam, but they will reduce the likelihood of it happening. The more people that are involved in the senior’s life, the more protected he or she will be.

How do you know if your loved one is the victim of financial abuse? Each case is different, but below are a few of the warning signs:

  • Significant, unexplained withdrawals of cash
  • Valuable items are disappearing from the elder’s home
  • The senior becomes isolated from others
  • Costly or inexplicable charges on credit cards
  • Your loved one is fearful of the caregiver
  • Numerous checks made out to “cash”

Not only is financial abuse a crime that can be reported to Adult Protective Services, there are other legal options that are available. To learn more, contact one of our elder law attorneys to schedule an appointment.

The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.