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We all lose our glasses or keys on occasion. That is the sign of a busy life. What you should watch for, however, are the signs that may indicate the early stages of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. If you detect such signs, do not panic, but rather consult your medical doctor and then start a discussion with your lawyer right away to formulate an estate plan. An estate plan encompasses not only how to handle your assets after you pass away, but also important decisions

In general, Mississippi’s statistics on marriage and divorce mirrors the United States’ average. 1  Almost fifty percent of the people who marry will divorce. What I find interesting, however, is that of the majority who get divorced, eighty percent go on to marry again for a second or third time. Of course, some of these people do so after the death of a prior spouse. The point, however, is that second or third marriages create a lot of blended families - children from eithe

Quite often I'm asked about Healthcare Directives, which are sometimes called Living Wills, or a DNR form ("Do Not Resuscitate"). The Healthcare Directive was developed after a prolonged legal battle, which resolved around 2005, between the husband of Terri Schiavo and her family. Terri Schiavo was found on the floor, unconscious and not breathing, without oxygen flowing to her brain for several minutes, after she suffered cardiac arrest. She spent years in a hospital with he

Medicare is the governmental health insurance program which, from 1966, has been a single-payer, national social insurance program providing coverage for most Americans of “retirement age.” 1  It has been estimated that Medicare spending accounts for about fifteen to sixteen percent of the total US Federal spending. On average, Medicare covers about half of the health care charges for those enrolled, with the remaining costs either paid out of the individual’s pocket or with

Most people regard estate plans as something needed for distributing your assets after you die.  In reality, however, a good estate plan maps out how you want to live in retirement, long before your death.  Every person has a vision of their days enjoying retirement, perhaps traveling or on a beach with a book;  however, careful planning is necessary to make this a reality.  Especially for women, as shown by the following statistics according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimat

Whenever a bride, groom, and their family plan a wedding, they consider every detail.  Sometimes, it can take over a year to get the plan just right: the best date, who to invite, the perfect dress, jewelry, flowers, the venue for the wedding, pre-wedding parties, the greatest reception, and . . . the list goes on. It is a big day and deserves proper consideration.   So, it amazes me that many of these same people often leave the rest of their life to chance. Either no plan i

Trusts are a good estate-planning tool. I often say they are an excellent option when a family needs flexibility, such as after a second marriage results in a blended family or when there is a special-needs family member. Trust provide the ability to control assets from the grave. They can terminate upon the happening of a specific event or provide support for the life of the beneficiary, then specify what happens to the remainder of the assets. Trusts can allow a person to p