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The Growing Rate of Dementia and Alzheimer's...
Posted on 3/9/2010
Let it snow! Pittsburgh Extends Property Tax Deadline...
Posted on 2/9/2010
Estate Tax, Medicaid, Social Security Changes Ring In New Year...
Posted on 1/13/2010
Health Care Debate: Long Term Insurance Overhaul...
Posted on 1/5/2010
Caregivers: For First Time State Looks To License Home Care Agencies...
Posted on 12/16/2009

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Veterans: do you qualify for more than just a pension?

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Elder Law Offices of Shields and Boris Library

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Medicaid

Are There Still Ways To Save the House? Transferring Property the Right Way ...
Description: So how should Sarah document her care for Mom? The best thing would be to keep a log or journal that sets forth specific incidents or events that, but for the child’s care, might have resulted in Mom’s institutionalization. For instance, note things like gas burners not being shut off, water left running in the tub, Mom’s wandering or other medically dangerous actions.
Why Attend Our Seminar On Medicaid, Long Term Care, Vet Benefits and Estate Planning
Description: Come to listen and interact with legal and financial professionals who have helped over a thousand families, couples, and individuals with estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, living wills, probate, special needs planning, Medicaid planning, and asset protection from nursing homes. Attorneys Jim Shields and Tom Boris are authors of notable books including, "The Truth About Revocable Living Trusts and Estate Planning, What To Do When A Loved One Dies, and The Consumer's Guide To Estate Planning, and are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

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Living Trusts

What is the difference between a will and a trust?
Description: People always ask, what is the difference between these two documents? Will or trust, I'm still leaving my assets to the people I care most about, right? Sure, that is true, but there are several key differences between the two.
Lessons On Probate and the Benefit of a Trust From Michael Jackson's Estate Distribution
Description: A trust, unlike a will, can avoid the probate court process when used properly. By not transferring assets into your trust, however, you undermine some of the key benefits of a trust privacy, avoiding probate court and decreasing the chances of a family fight.
Myths about Revocable Living Trusts, Lawyers and Estate Planning. You want the best Elder Law Attorney and Estate Planning Attorney on your side. Call us for a FREE consultation at (800) 879 0984
Description: If you are interested in speaking with an expert Pennsyvania Estate Planning Lawyer, contact us for a free consultation at (800) 879-0984. We are experienced Pittsburgh Elder Law Attorneys proud to help those too often forgotten about. Myths about Revocable Living Trusts, Lawyers and Estate Planning. You want the best Elder Law Attorney and Estate Planning Attorney on your side. Call us for a FREE consultation at (800) 879 0984
Is your living trust complete?
Description: If you have a living trust or are thinking of creating a living trust, there are certain components that your trust should contain. There are also documents and information that you should include in or with your trust to ensure that your trust is properly executed. Don’t leave your loved ones in a state of confusion – take the time to review your living trust with your estate planning lawyer to ensure that it is complete.
Living Trust Overview
Description: A living trust can be a very important document to help manage your estate, protect your assets and your privacy, and give you peace of mind. An experienced elder law attorney like those at Shields and Boris can help you better understand living trusts and how they can work for you. Contact us at 800-879-0984.

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Estate Administration and Probate

Long Term Care Insurance Details - Legally Bonded Caregiving. Contact us for a FREE consultation for long-term care planning.
Description: The process for becoming a legally bonded caregiver involves contacting an insurance carrier in order to purchase a surety bond. The surety bond provides a financial guaranty in the event that services provided are not up to required standards or some financial loss is experienced by the individual receiving the care services. In many jurisdictions, a surety bond is needed to obtain a license to become a qualified or certified long term caregiver
Philip K. Dick’s estate accuses Google of infringement
Description: Google may be excited with the recent release of the Nexus One “superphone”, but one organization that isn’t so thrilled about the new mobile outing is the estate of late science fiction author Philip K. Dick.

Electric Shepard Productions, the company which stewards and manages adaptations of Dick’s published works takes offense that Google did not seek permission from Dick’s family to use the “Nexus One” name before going public.
20 Questions to Find Best Home Health Care Agency
Description: At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury. That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments that are licensed by the state.
With increasing interest in reverse mortgages as a potential source for retirement income, we want to help consumers make informed decisions regarding the use of home equity to help fund one’s retirement.
Description: When it comes to making the right legal and financial decisions pertaining to long-term care, you want the best Elder Law attorney on your side! Shields and Boris Law Office provides experienced professionals who concentrate SOLELY on Elder Law - issues such as Medicaid, Medicare, Asset Protection, Veterans Benefits, Special Needs, Wills, Trusts, Estate Taxes, Probate, and how you can protect the money you've worked your entire life for so that it goes to loved ones, instead of the government, or nursing home. Call us today for a FREE consultation!
Don't rely on Estate Planning advice from someone you can't trust, or from loved ones who may not know the full scope of the law and financial planning. Order one of our books located below, or call us for a FREE consultation to sit down and discuss all your options with an experienced, legal professional.
Description: Don't rely on Estate Planning advice from someone you can't trust, or from loved ones who may not know the full scope of the law and financial planning. Order one of our books located below, or call us for a FREE consultation to sit down and discuss all your options with an experienced, legal professional.

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Asset Protection

What Can Seniors and Their Families To Legally Protect Themselves In These Dire Times?
Description: It feels like the sky is falling. Every week a client is coming telling us of a job loss or home loss. Medicaid has cut back on funding. The local senior service agencies have three to six month waiting lists for home health care services. The Visiting Nurses are telling us that Medicare has changed how it pays for home care after a hospital stay as well. It looks like quite a few people will be losing services. So what can you do to legally protect yourself in these dire economic times?
Gift tax annual exclusion to remain unchanged in 2010. Contact us to see how this factors into your estate plan
Description: The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that the 2010 gift tax annual exclusion will remain unchanged at $13,000. The annual amount of the exclusion is based upon the Consumer Price Index, and the exclusion has increased gradually from $10,000 in 1997 to $13,000 in both 2009 and 2010.

As such, so long as your gifts to an individual are less than $13,000 in 2010, there is no gift tax return required to be filed and no gift taxes are due. A married couple can gift $26,000 to each individual, as each spouse receives an exclusion without creating a gift tax liability.
Gift tax annual exclusion to remain unchanged in 2010. Contact us to see how this factors into your estate plan
Description: The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that the 2010 gift tax annual exclusion will remain unchanged at $13,000. The annual amount of the exclusion is based upon the Consumer Price Index, and the exclusion has increased gradually from $10,000 in 1997 to $13,000 in both 2009 and 2010.

As such, so long as your gifts to an individual are less than $13,000 in 2010, there is no gift tax return required to be filed and no gift taxes are due. A married couple can gift $26,000 to each individual, as each spouse receives an exclusion without creating a gift tax liability.
This section of the site is designed to provide you with information about your Medicare eligibility and enrollment.
Description: This section of the site is designed to provide you with information about your Medicare eligibility and enrollment. You will be asked to answer a series of questions. The number of questions, as well as the questions themselves will be dynamic based on your answers. Once we have collected enough information, we will display detailed information tailored to your specific situation. Please note that Social Security will make the final decision on your eligibility and enrollment status.
Choosing whether a Roth IRA is best for you takes a discussion with a qualified financial advisor. Contact us at (800) 879-0984 to find out your best options for estate planning
Description: Now that 2010 has arrived, people whose incomes were previously too high to permit them to rollover a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA are calling their investment houses about making conversions. That's because for the first time, even if your annual income exceeds $100,000, you can convert a traditional IRA -- or a SEP IRA, Simple IRA or 401(k) or 403(b) plan held with a former employer -- to a Roth IRA.

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Veterans Benefits

Veterans: do you qualify for more than just a pension?
Description: Veterans who are struggling to make ends meet, take heart: you could qualify for VA benefits in addition to your pension. Aid and Attendance (A&A) or Housebound benefits are available for disabled veterans who need special care or for veterans confined to their home or living space. The attorneys at Shields & Boris can help you with your veterans benefits claim.

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Special Needs Trust

Part 11 of 12 - Facts Every Special Needs Family Must Know About Estate Planning
Description: As the parent of a special needs child you and your family confront many challenges. However, securing your child’s financial future doesn’t have to be one of them. Taking the time now to develop a comprehensive financial plan means a secure, comfortable life for your child and piece of mind for you.

This report is designed to inform families with special needs children about the various kinds of estate plans, suggest the advantages and disadvantages of each, and assist you in identifying the kind of information to gather and share with your lawyer and financial planner.
Part 12 of 12 - Facts Every Special Needs Family Must Know About Estate Planning
Description: As the parent of a special needs child you and your family confront many challenges. However, securing your child’s financial future doesn’t have to be one of them. Taking the time now to develop a comprehensive financial plan means a secure, comfortable life for your child and piece of mind for you.

This report is designed to inform families with special needs children about the various kinds of estate plans, suggest the advantages and disadvantages of each, and assist you in identifying the kind of information to gather and share with your lawyer and financial planner.

You are Your Child’s Biggest and Most Important Advocate
Part 9 of 12 Facts Every Special Needs Family Must Know About Estate Planning
Description: Call 1-800-879-0984 for a no-obligation review of your plan or come to one of our upcoming special needs seminars. The peace of mind that proper planning for your special needs child gives you will far outweigh any time and expense it takes to get a plan in place. We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve that peace of mind for you and your special needs child.
Part 7 of 12 - Facts Every Special Needs Family Should Know About Estate Planning
Part 8 of 12 - FACTS EVERY SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY MUST KNOW
Description: Call 1-800-879-0984 for a no-obligation review of your plan or come to one of our upcoming special needs seminars. The peace of mind that proper planning for your special needs child gives you will far outweigh any time and expense it takes to get a plan in place. We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve that peace of mind for you and your special needs child.

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General

21 Tips For Adapting a Home For Senior Living
Description: If you are thinking of moving into a home, building one that you can retire in, or wondering how you can make your elderly parent’s home easier to live in – there are some things to look for to make living as a Senior Adult or a person with a disability easier. Here is a list of 21 proven helpful ideas and tips.
Martha Stewart shares her cargiving experience as well as a plea for the Health Care Bill to include support for the growing elderly population
Description: As the health care bill winds its way through Congress, sparking passions, heated debate and countless news stories, I have been struck by the dearth of discussion about a looming health care crisis: In 2011, the first of 78 million baby boomers will start turning 65. We, as a nation, are utterly unprepared for this rapidly approaching "silver tsunami."
If you find a Seminar that you are interested in attending, PLEASE CALL 1-800-459-1843 to Reserve Yours Seats for these FREE Seminars.
Description: If you find a Seminar that you are interested in attending, PLEASE CALL 1-800-459-1843 to Reserve Yours Seats for these FREE Seminars.

Both Tom Boris and Jim Shields and members of the National Elder Law Association, and are accredited to handle benefits for Veterans. They've helped thousands of clients and are experienced legal and financial professionals.
One-third of American adults provide care, new report finds
Description: After dealing with the death of his mother while he was in law school, Jim Shields dedicated himself to becoming an expert in the disposition of estates after a death. The legal team at Shields & Boris knows that you want to avoid probate if possible and will help you plan your estate to do just that, but we can also guide loved ones through the court process. We will walk with you through this complex process. Let us help you with a free consultation, contact us today 1-800-879-0984.
Special Report- Part 10 of 12 Facts Every Special Needs Family Should Know About Estate Planning
Description: What is the next step? Call 1-800-879-0984 for a no-obligation review of your plan or come to one of our upcoming special needs seminars. The peace of mind that proper planning for your special needs child gives you will far outweigh any time and expense it takes to get a plan in place. We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve that peace of mind for you and your special needs child.

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Elder Law Offices of Shields and Boris
109 VIP Drive
Suite 102
Wexford, PA 15090
Phone: (724) 934-5044
Toll Free: (800) 879-0984
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Living Trusts

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