The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, federal legislation that allows people with disabilities to create their own special needs trusts instead of having to rely on others, is now law. The measure was included in the 21st Century Cures Act, a $6.3 billion package of health-related initiatives signed by President Obama on December 13, 2016. The Fairness Act, introduced in 2013 by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), fixes an especially frustrating drafting error in the Social Security Act that has [...]

While you are eligible to apply for Medicare when you are 65, there are circumstances where you might not want to, particularly if you are working full time for a larger employer or contributing to a health savings account. However, there can be penalties if you don't sign up at the right time, so it is important to know when you can delay signing up for Medicare without facing a penalty. You can first sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, which is the seven-month period [...]

The beginning of a new year is a good time to take a look at your estate plan to make sure it is up to date. Less than half of people actually have any estate planning documents in place and many of those people may have outdated documents. Documents that were created when your children were born may need updating 20, 30, or 40 years later, after your family and financial situation have changed entirely. 1. The Durable Power of Attorney The most important estate planning instrument for taking [...]

If you are ever injured in an accident, you may have to commence a lawsuit to recover compensation for such damages as lost wages, medical expenses, physical therapy expenses, pain, suffering and perhaps the costs to have future medical treatment or surgery. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer is critical to your best interests, because the process of recovering for personal injuries suffered in accidents can be complicated, time-consuming and contentious. Insurance companies are [...]

The sad truth is that motorcycle riders are more frequently injured and more seriously injured than other drivers. [ DMV Statistics ] Despite the efforts of motorcycle organizations to publicize the problem and promote awareness, we hear the same refrain time after time: “I didn’t see him”. Every motorcyclist has experienced cars turning in front of them as if they were not there. Too often even the most attentive rider cannot avoid contact with a car or escape a serious [...]