Author Archives: Andre O. McDonald
How An ABLE Account Can Help Boost Your Financial Health
For many people with disabilities, maintaining financial well-being can prove particularly challenging amid the marginalization, societal stereotypes, and employment and health care barriers they may regularly face. This includes anything from inaccessible workplaces to reduced income to limited options for building up their savings. Financial Health of People with Disabilities According to a new report,… Read More »
Blindsided: The Michael Oher Conservatorship Controversy Explained
Michael Oher has had a remarkable life so far. Born to a single mother struggling with addiction and growing up in and out of foster care, Oher went on to star as a University of Mississippi football player and was selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens…. Read More »
When Does Someone Need a Property Guardian?
When individuals cannot manage their finances, courts can appoint guardians. Guardianship is for those who need help handling money. Depending on the jurisdiction, financial guardianship may also be called guardianship of the estate or conservatorship. In Maryland financial guardianship is called Guardian of Property. Similarly, in the District of Columbia, a financial guardianship is called a… Read More »
Can a Nursing Home Hold Friends or Family Members Responsible for a Resident’s Care?
If your loved one is entering a nursing facility, you may worry whether you could be liable for their care as the nursing home responsible party. Under federal law, a facility cannot require a family member or friend to co-sign an admission agreement and take on personal liability. However, nursing homes around the country… Read More »
Making a Will Can Protect Your Child with Special Needs
For the one in five families who care for children with special needs, estate planning is crucial. Parents of a child with a disability face numerous challenges and concerns. One 2022 study found that one of these parents’ biggest worries is what will happen to their children if they get sick. They wonder what will happen… Read More »
How Far in Advance Can I Begin My Estate Planning?
You can create your estate plan at any time, but many people choose to begin the process sooner rather than later. Why? Because you never know when life-changing medical or financial emergencies can strike that will require someone else to manage your affairs during your lifetime. However, is there an age that is too… Read More »
Key Considerations Around Estate Planning for Expatriates
The United States hosts the highest number of immigrants in the world, but increasingly, Americans say they are looking to relocate permanently to another country. A large percentage of wealthy Americans are also interested in buying real estate overseas and living there at least part-time. This begs the question: are there any specific considerations… Read More »
What Happens to My Leased Car If I Die Before the Lease Term Ends?
After a house, a car is often the second-most valuable piece of property a person owns. About 15–20 percent of new vehicles are leased rather than purchased and financed. Leasing is a popular alternative to traditional financing because it can allow the lessee (the person who leases a vehicle) to drive a more expensive… Read More »
Beware of Unequal Contributions When Purchasing a House
At a time of record home unaffordability, more people are teaming up with friends and relatives to realize the home ownership dream. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than 75 percent of homes on the market now are too expensive for middle-income buyers. Just five years ago, this same income group… Read More »
Limited Impact of Estrangement on Estate Planning
Unfortunately, rifts sometimes arise between family members that are much more serious than just temporary squabbles. The result may be estrangement, defined as “the state of being alienated or separated in feeling or affection; a state of hostility or unfriendliness” or “the state of being separated or removed.”[1] Estrangement does not mean that the… Read More »
