Downs Law Firm, P.C.
I am the beneficiary on my father’s life estate deed of his home. He passed in October 2018. I am wanting to sell the house and have not filed a warranty deed to put the house in my name. Also, the life estate deed is via power of attorney because my father had Alzheimer’s and at the time of the preparation of the life estate deed, would not have been considered able to make such a decision.
Planning to age in place secures your finances, healthcare and legal rights, while you continue to live independently in your home.
Don’t lose your purpose in retirement. We work with many clients who are about to make a dramatic life-altering change or retire. Many people are very good at planning for the parts of retirement. However, they sometimes forget to include the change of lifestyle that comes without a work schedule, according to Next Avenue in “How to Keep Retirement From Being A Drag.” Most people plan for the financial and legal aspects of retirement: how much they need to save, how much of a bite inflation will take, the cost of healthcare, long-term healthcare, etc. But what about fun? Think ahead about what you are going to enjoy during the retirement years. Work is where many people get their sense of purpose and their identity. Talk to any working parent who steps out of their career trajectory for a few years. It’s a similar shift, except there is no smiling, cooing baby to keep you busy. If you don’t have projects, meetings, or deadlines, or the community of the workplace, what defines you? This sense of being adrift occurs to people regardless of their income level and maybe even more intense for successful people who are used to running a business, commandeering a company, or managing a busy desk. Here are some suggestions for making sure your life during retirement is enjoyable and has purpose and meaning. Set your alarm and have a reason to get up every day. After you’ve taken the big trip, spent time with your grandchildren, and organized your closets, what’s next? It’s time for you now to do things you’ve always wanted to do but could not for reasons of time. That might mean taking up a sport, expanding a hobby, becoming an active volunteer, or returning to school to explore a subject you love. Consider yourself to be on a fixed salary. The transition from paycheck to drawing down savings can be unnerving. You’re sitting on a huge pile of money—but it must last two or even three decades. Create a post-retirement budget before you retire, and don’t forget to include healthcare, taxes, and potential emergencies. Also consider which assets to draw from and in what order. Do you use your 401(k) funds first, or start with cash? Avoid this retirement rookie mistake: taking out too much cash in the initial retirement stage. Talk with your partner and family. Will you both retire at the same time? How will you divide chores if one is still working and the other is not? If your work schedules meant you didn’t see each other for more than a few minutes during the week, spending 24/7 together is a big change. Do you expect to spend all your time together, or will there be some “me” time? Will your children expect you to babysit regularly? An estate planning attorney can advise you on creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances, including your retirement years. Reference: Next Avenue (Nov. 29, 2018) “How to Keep Retirement From
Seventy-seven percent of respondents in a recent survey said estate and legacy strategies were important for everyone, not just wealthy individuals, yet only 24% said they had taken the basic step of designating beneficiaries for all of their accounts.
Halloween and the Honoring of the Dead: A Journey from the Catacombs to Candy Corn When it comes to honoring the dead, our cultural traditions are full of ghosts, saints, and all manner of solemn and playful commemoration. But how did we arrive at the modern mash-up of costumes, jack-o’-lanterns, and haunted houses that we call Halloween? Let’s take a journey through time—from the underground burial chambers of ancient Rome to the Day of the Dead altars in Mexico—and see how our festive approach to remembering the departed has evolved. And, of course, we’ll tie it back to those personal connections that make honoring the dead a universally shared human experience—like the plaque I’m having installed on the final resting place of my parents. The Origins of Honoring the Dead: Catacombs and Saints Our journey begins deep below the surface of ancient Rome, where early Christians sought refuge in catacombs—underground burial places outside the city walls. These tunnels were not only places to hide from persecution but also served as sites for mourning, prayer, and remembrance. The reverence for martyrs and the ritual of praying for the departed laid the groundwork for what would become All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, marking a time when the faithful would pause to remember those who had died. By the 8th century, these practices were formalized. Pope Gregory III declared November 1st to be a day dedicated to honoring all saints, both known and unknown—a move that transformed the casual veneration of the dead into a structured ecclesiastical event. Thus, All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows’ Day) and its companion, All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), became key moments for Christians to visit the graves of loved ones, light candles, and pray for their souls. The Celtic Samhain and the Rise of Halloween Meanwhile, in the lands of the Celts—today’s Ireland, Scotland, and parts of France—another festival was marking the turn of the seasons and the passage from life to death. Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”) was an ancient harvest festival that took place on October 31st, and it was believed that on this night, the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the spirits grew thin. People would light bonfires, wear costumes to ward off wandering ghosts and leave offerings to the departed to ensure a bountiful harvest. As Christianity spread across Europe, old pagan customs mingled with new religious traditions. By the time All Saints’ Day was established, its “eve” on October 31st—known as All Hallows’ Eve—became a night to honor the dead in a way that fused both Christian and Celtic beliefs. The transformation was gradual and patchy, but the seeds were sown for what would eventually become our modern Halloween. The Mexican Día de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life and Death While Halloween was brewing in Europe, other parts of the world developed their own traditions to honor the dead. Perhaps none is more colorful and iconic than the Mexican Día de los Muertos
Phone and computer passwords, crypto wallets, investment portfolios, mobile banking passcodes and even social media credentials also need a place to go when you die.
Anyone can contribute to a person’s ABLE account, but there are federally-mandated annual contribution limits. In 2019, the total annual contributions that an ABLE account can receive from all sources is $15,000.
Only 32% of Americans have a will. However, even if you believe you lack assets, going without a will is a big mistake.
You may need to petition the courts for guardianship or conservatorship, the terms of which vary from state to state.
Understanding the differences between Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia is crucial for early diagnosis and effective planning.
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