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Personal Message

Welcome to the May issue of the

Texas Elder Law E-letter


Our next free "Estate Planning Essentials" Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, May 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Although this workshop is “sold out”, we are considering a bigger venue to meet the demand. Our June “Estate Planning Essentials” Workshop is scheduled for Thursday, June 15 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To sign up for any Workshop or any Bonus Workshop (described below), you may call us at (214) 720-0102 or sign up online at www.dallaselderlawyer.com or click here to register online. There has been a waiting list for the last several Workshops. So, if interested (or you know someone interested), it is probably best to sign up sooner rather than later.

We have a Bonus Workshop on May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. which will be presented by Jerry Hast, a financial advisor with Investing Makes Me Sick. Mr. Hast will be speaking on “Alternative Investing Facts and Fiction”.  Jerry Hast has been in the investment/pension fund industry for 37 years representing well-known entities.

Michael B. Cohen will be speaking on elder law issues in connection with guardianship at a program sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association’s Probate, Trusts and Estates Section along with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program at the Attorney Ad Litem certification course on May 23 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.  Last month, he spoke at the State Bar’s Advanced Elder Law Conference on the “Transition from Veterans Benefits to Medicaid Benefits”.

Please note the new schedule for Michael B. Cohen’s radio show "Know Your Legal Rights". The program is now on Mondays at 2:00 p.m., Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. and on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. on KAAM 770 AM. Podcasts of the shows are available on our website at www.dallaselderlawyer.com. If you want a question to be addressed on a future show, please mention the same on our website and we'll try to discuss the relevant topics.
ACTIONS TO CONSIDER NOW WITH PENDING TAX REFORM

Although potential tax reform laws are far from settled, taxpayers could consider certain actions now to maximize tax savings including the following:

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TEXAS SENATE PASSES BILL FOR A BLOCK GRANT WITH REPEAL OR REPLACEMENT OF OBAMACARE LOOMING

The Texas Senate has passed a bill (which has been sent to the Texas House) to facilitate the design and development of a Medicaid

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COMMON ESTATE PLANNING CONCERNS OF AN ELDER LAW ATTORNEY

As an elder law attorney, it may be surprising to clients that many of our referrals come from estate planning attorneys since most have limited knowledge regarding public benefits. Many are shocked

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CONGRESS GRANTS $400 MILLION INCREASE FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have come to a bipartisan agreement on a historic increase of $400 million in Alzheimer’s research at a time

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Adding to Uncertainty for Scam Targets, the IRS Now Allows Private Debt Collectors to Dun Taxpayers

In a move that could be confusing to seniors who are vulnerable to scams, the IRS will begin using private debt collection agencies to collect past-due taxes.

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Dispute Between Brothers Demonstrates Need to Plan for Long-Term Care

A recent New Jersey appeals court case demonstrates how important it is for families to come up with a long-term care plan before an emergency strikes.

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Short-Term Care Insurance: An Alternative to the Long-Term Care Variety

A little-known insurance option can be an answer for some people who might need care but are unable to buy long-term care insurance. 

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Study Finds That Social Security Workers Often Provide Incomplete Information

Americans are misinformed about many aspects of Social Security, and local Social Security offices may not be helping, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office.

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