SSG Advisors, LLC and Chiron Financial LLC filed the lawsuit against Daybreak Oil and Gas Inc., claiming that Daybreak violated an agreement among the three companies. The investment firms claim they are owed approximately $1.1 million.
According to court documents, the relationship among the parties began in May 2015. The engagement agreement, which was renewed on two occasions, called for SSG and Chiron to provide investment banking services to Daybreak.
The lawsuit claims that Daybreak failed to submit payment for three months under the most recent engagement agreement, which the firms claim is still active. The lawsuit also names Platinum Partners, LP; Maximillian Resources, LLC; and Zach Weiner, a portfolio manager based in New York City, as co-defendants.
The investment firms allege that Daybreak and Weiner held discussions about restructuring the company, without informing them. The lawsuit claims that Daybreak and Maximillian sold a significant portion of Daybreak’s assets to a third party, which was allegedly a breach of the engagement agreement. According to court documents, SSG and Chiron learned of the sale by reading a press release issued by Daybreak.
Gregory D. Jordan is an Oil and Gas lawyer in Austin. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.
The post Investment firms sue oil company, alleging breach of contract first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The brainchild of billionaire investor Steven A. Cohen, the nonprofit Cohen Veterans Network clinics hope to provide free mental health services to veterans and their family members. Besides treating a wide range of mental health disorders, they also help veterans make a smoother transition to civilian life. Staff members offer support in transportation, housing, education, employment and other areas.
Cohen said the clinics are focusing on areas of high need. The network is currently operating clinics in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York City, San Antonio and Addison, Texas. With Cohen’s investment of $275 million nationally, there are plans to open 20 more clinics over the next five years.
Cohen said the clinics were inspired by his son Robert, a Marine. He said although his son did not need mental health care upon returning from Afghanistan, many of his friends did. A key factor that sets the clinics apart is that they care for veterans regardless of how they were discharged.
Many veterans may seek care outside the VA because they do not qualify for government-funded services and benefits. Because the clinics do not have strict eligibility rules, they hope to cater to veterans who are currently struggling to get the help they need.
The post Free mental health clinics aim to offer alternative to VA care first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>On the other hand, there are things that you can do to avoid conflict in your family after you are gone. The first step, and perhaps the most important one, is to make sure that you know your family – both the good and the bad. You can love all your children and grandchildren very much and still recognize that one or more of them have serious financial or addiction problems that might not make them good choices as a fiduciary. You can love your family and recognize that some of your children do not get along and will not work together well. You may have a child who means well but really doesn’t understand the realities of financial planning or managing wealth and who needs a trust to protect his or her interests. You can have a child who is great with money but oblivious to the emotional interactions within the family. Once you have identified potential problems within the family, discuss with your attorney how to draft your documents to manage or avoid the potential conflicts you can already see.
For instance, if you have children who do not get along and you have determined that trust planning for them meets your goals, you might avoid making the children trustees of each other’s trusts. That way they do not have to be in conflict with one another over distributions from the trust and can focus, instead, on their relationship as siblings. This may be particularly true in instances where a trust is created for only one child as a result of an addiction issue. Depending on the circumstances, a professional trustee may even make sense. A no contest clause could also make sense in appropriate circumstances, especially where you are making an uneven distribution of your estate, or you have one or two descendants who like to cause trouble.
The second step is to know your assets and the relative importance and value that each member of the family places on such assets. For instance, if you have a family farm, it may be very important to maintain the farm as such while others may see it as a development opportunity. If your goal is to maintain the property as a family farm, you will want to take steps to ensure that this asset is controlled by family members who think as you do. If you have other assets that you can use to equalize bequests to your family, it may make sense to give the farm to one child who wants to maintain the farm, while giving the liquid assets to another who has no interest in farming. If you have multiple family members who value the farm or really any business, it may make sense to create a family LLC for the farm that you can run as a family while you are alive. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will pass on your values and traditions like incorporating your family into your business while you are alive. By doing so, you pass on your passions, your business strategies, your values in ways that make them truly alive for the next generations.
A similar issue arises with respect to tangible personal property. It is not uncommon for family members to fight over the distribution of tangible personal property. While most families ultimately work this issue out themselves, if only because the cost of legal help rarely makes sense, it can cause tensions within the family that may take a long time to clear up. By knowing the importance that your family members place on particular items of tangible personal property, you can alleviate these tensions in many cases while you are alive. You can give the tangibles away to particular people during your lifetime. This can be done one-on-one or at a family party where the children take turns choosing items. If you are concerned that the children may fight over things, you can even sell them and take a personal vacation.
The third step is to communicate with your family. It is rarely a good idea to keep your estate plan a secret from your family members. If you have decided that only one of your children should be a fiduciary or only one needs a trust or you have made some other uneven distribution of your estate, let all of the children know. Explain, while you can, why you have made your choices as you have. Usually, the family understands your decisions and, even if they do not like the decisions, they are willing to accept your decisions on the matter. After all, it is your money and you can do with it what you like. Secrecy in the family, especially where one family member has been favored by an ailing parent and the other family members feel isolated from that parent, is a leading cause of conflict that ultimately ends up resolved in court. Not just because one child feels left out, but because the trust within the family has been broken. Once you are gone, the opportunity is lost.
The fourth step is to encourage your named fiduciary to seek qualified legal counsel in connection with the administration of your estate. Some problems can be easily resolved with careful guidance of the fiduciary through the administration of the estate. It can also reduce conflict within the family to have a dispassionate third party communicate with the beneficiaries, explain the process etc., so that the focus of any disappointment or anger may not rest on the child named to act your fiduciary.
Addressing potential conflicts within the family before death with your attorney cannot guarantee that conflicts will not arise. However, an experienced estate planner like the attorneys at the Hook Law Center, can offer individualized advice and assistance to reduce the conflict while you are alive and to minimize the conflict after your death.
Ask Kit Kat – Kitten Nursery
Hook Law Center: Kit Kat, what can you tell us about the special kitten nursery in NYC?
Kit Kat: Well, they are doing a wonderful job and performing a unique service to the feline population of New York City. Leave it to New York—a city of 8 million people also has an outsized population of kittens. Breeding season is April to November, and kittens proliferate. This particular nursery is located on the Upper East Side at East 91st Street and was opened in 2014, because the ASPCA needed some way to deal with the high number of kittens. It can handle up to 300 kittens at a time. Once they reach 8 weeks of age and are spayed, they are transitioned to one of the regular ASPCA locations.
It takes a horde of volunteers to handle these little darlings. They need individual attention to become accustomed to handling by humans. Some have come to the nursery as young as a day old. The volunteers act as surrogate mothers. They feed them individually with tiny bottles of formula. They mimic the mother cat’s grooming with the use of a toothbrush. The grooming act, in turn, stimulates the kitten to feed and take the bottle. The volunteers also rub the kittens’ tummies with warm water to get them to use the litter box. Bubbles are blown at them to foster their hunting skills.
In the nursery’s two-year existence, it has handled 3,500 kittens! Kitten euthanasias have declined by 20 percent, because the kittens are able to get the care they need at a critical time in their development. Kittens from the same litter stay together and are given names starting with the same letter of the alphabet. “Orion, Ozzy and Osbourne in one cage; Hallie, Hamlet and Hiro in the next.” It’s a great service to the feline population. Often the mother does as much as she can for her kittens, but if she has to move suddenly because she feels threatened, frequently a kitten or two get lost in the shuffle. Thank goodness this safety net is here to help! (Andy Newman, “Two Rooms, 300 Kittens,” The New York Times, New York Region, November 23, 2016)
Distribution of This Newsletter
Hook Law Center encourages you to share this newsletter with anyone who is interested in issues pertaining to the elderly, the disabled and their advocates. The information in this newsletter may be copied and distributed, without charge and without permission, but with appropriate citation to Hook Law Center, P.C. If you are interested in a free subscription to the Hook Law Center News, then please telephone us at 757-399-7506, e-mail us at mail@hooklawcenter.com or fax us at 757-397-1267.The post Intra-Family Conflict After Death – It’s Expensive first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
Passengers leaving from LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports are vulnerable to identity theft and price gouging. Uber said the fake drivers have been stealing cash and credit card information from people before they use the app to request a ride. The drivers are allegedly colluding with fixers who linger near arrival areas and aggressively solicit passengers. It is illegal for drivers to schedule or accept rides at airports without using the official Uber app.
The company conducted a 15-day review of the situation at the two airports, saying it has “reached crisis levels.” They found that scammers are making as many as 2,300 illegal rides each week.
Uber filed an official complaint with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the metro-area airports. Company spokesman Josh Mohrer wrote a letter requesting the department to investigate the problem, saying, “In recent weeks, the conditions at the terminal have noticeably worsened.”
Identity theft, credit card fraud and related crimes are serious charges that require skilled defense. An experienced attorney can fight on the accused person’s behalf to avoid jail time.
The post Fake Uber drivers target passengers at NYC airports first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Finding affordable housing can be difficult for people with disabilities, who may have special housing needs or limited funds. However, there are a number of resources available to help:
Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York
The Center for Independence of the Disabled (CID-NY) is a primary resource. In addition to providing individuals with referrals and resources related to affordable and accessible housing, CID-NY can provide assistance with applying for disability related programs. The phone number for the main intake line is 646-442-4186.
The Medicaid Waiver Program provides help for individuals who need managed long-term care to find housing in the community and the home services they need. In addition to housing, the program provides services such as meals and home care. For more information, contact the Regional Resource Development Center at 718-816-3555.
The Home of Your Own Program is a project of the New York Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to help individuals with developmental disabilities, their families who are income-eligible, and direct support professionals to find a home of their choice. The program and its network of partners provide counseling and resources for home ownership and other independent residential opportunities. Contact OPWDD at 518-473-1973.
New York City tenants with disabilities may qualify for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) program. Eligible people with disabilities living in rent-stabilized, rent-controlled, Mitchell-Lama and other eligible apartments can have their rent frozen and receive an exemption from future rent increases. Their landlords are provided with tax credits to make up the difference.
In New York City, affordable housing lotteries are held for renovated or newly constructed buildings with subsidized apartments. Usually, 2 percent of the units in a development are set aside for people with visual and hearing disabilities, and 5 percent are set aside for people with mobility impairments. Call NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) at 212-863-7990.
Learn more about our services in special needs planning, special education advocacy, estate planning and elder law.
A Manhattan federal jury found Larry Davis, 65, and his company guilty of defrauding the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. His company, DCM Erectors Inc., won contracts to work on the World Trade Center site destroyed by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Davis pretended he was promoting a minority-owned businesses in order to obtain almost $1 billion for the construction.
Prosecutors claimed that in 2007 Davis was awarded contracts that required him to allocate millions of dollars to hiring subcontractors that were minority or women-owned businesses. Davis set up two fake firms to help him obtain contracts. He paid bribes to have documents signed for submission to the Port Authority. Meanwhile, DCM or other firms affiliated with the contractor carried out the construction.
The scheme earned him $256 million for work on the Freedom Tower and a $330 million contract for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. Prosecutors claimed the amount paid to Davis’s firm ultimately surged to nearly $1 billion when he claimed more funds were needed to complete the construction. The Mississauga, Ontario, resident was arrested in 2014. He will be sentenced on November 15 and faces up to 40 years in prison.
The post Freedom Tower contractor found guilty of wire fraud first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Gerald Seppala, Steven Brown and James David Williams face conspiracy, money laundering and wire fraud charges. If convicted, they could face decades in prison. Prosecutors claim that the men lied about producing feature-length films and documentaries. In a 2014 civil lawsuit filed against the men, investors claimed they were told their money would go toward films starring Harry Connick Jr., Nicolas Cage and Willie Nelson.
Prosecutors claim that the men made false representations and promises from 2012 to 2016. They allege that the men used the money for personal expenses, paying back previous investors and funding other projects. Williams was accused of using some of the money to purchase a house and car for himself. The civil lawsuit alleges that an individual and two companies lost $10.9 million that was supposed to be invested in four films. The suit claims that the defendants sent falsified financial records to investors showing investments that had not been made.
Brown was arrested in New York City and was freed on $200,000 bail. Williams was arrested in Los Angeles and Seppala was arrested in Wayzata, Minnesota.
The post Three men arrested in New York City fraud case first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Manhattan prosecutors have charged 39 people with grand larceny and related charges in what they claim is a credit card fraud scheme that resulted in the loss of more than $250,000 worth of luxury goods from Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys in the past year. The people accused include members of Pop Out Boyz, a rap group based in Brooklyn that released a single entitled “For a Scammer,” with lyrics that mention “cracking cards.”
Capt. Christopher Flanagan, commander of the NYPD’s Financial Crimes Task Force, said that credit card fraud is becoming a “big issue” in Brooklyn. Credit card numbers are stolen when customers use them at retailers all over the world, traded on the Internet’s hidden “dark web,” and encoded onto new cards using machines.
Identity theft and credit card crimes are serious charges that require a sophisticated defense. A person accused of such crimes may be wrongly accused, the police or prosecutors may have made mistakes or violated the defendant’s rights, or the person may be a small-time player caught up in a dragnet. Many attorneys are unfamiliar with the complexities of such charges, so it is important to be represented by experienced legal counsel who will explore every possible defense.
The post Credit card fraud charges becoming more common in New York City first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
The post Settlement Reached for Seniors Who Must Leave Assisted Living Home first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>An assisted living home for seniors in New York City is closing and five residents who had refused to move will accept a $3.35 million settlement.
In March 2014, the management of a home for seniors in Brooklyn announced that the facility was closing and the residents would have to move within 90 days. Many of those affected were angry, alleging that the building owners wanted to sell to a…
The post Settlement Reached for Seniors Who Must Leave Assisted Living Home first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>An assisted living home for seniors in New York City is closing and five residents who had refused to move will accept a $3.35 million settlement.
In March 2014, the management of a home for seniors in Brooklyn announced that the facility was closing and the residents would have to move within 90 days. Many of those affected were angry, alleging that the building owners wanted to sell to a…
The post Potential Disclosure of Records Impacting Students with Special Needs first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>New York City special education students and their parents should be aware of a potential disclosure of student records for the purpose of a class action lawsuit. The potential disclosure may affect students who had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) prepared between 2003 and 2016 by the New York City Department of Education (DOE), and either attended a state-approved non-public school or…
The post Potential Disclosure of Records Impacting Students with Special Needs first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>New York City special education students and their parents should be aware of a potential disclosure of student records for the purpose of a class action lawsuit. The potential disclosure may affect students who had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) prepared between 2003 and 2016 by the New York City Department of Education (DOE), and either attended a state-approved non-public school or…
Budden, 35, appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court March 3 and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, which is a violation, not a crime. Budden was ordered to lead a law-abiding life. The criminal charges of grand larceny and domestic violence were dismissed.
The case had been pending since Budden’s arrest in August 2014, when he was accused of pushing and choking his ex-girlfriend and stealing her cellphone. The deal that was reached resulted in Budden never being indicted on the original charges of grand larceny, robbery and criminal obstruction of breathing.
Budden’s attorney said that the violation Budden pleaded guilty to is akin to making an unreasonable noise in public or blocking traffic. Both Budden and his attorney said they were very pleased with the outcome.
Charges of domestic violence and grand larceny are very serious, and anyone accused of such a crime should immediately seek the assistance of a qualified and experienced criminal defense attorney. It is very important not to make any statements to police officers before consulting with one’s attorney. The Brill Legal Group has extensive experience defending people accused of grand larceny, domestic violence and other serious criminal charges.
The post Domestic violence and grand larceny charges against rapper Joe Budden have been dropped first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Budden, 35, appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court March 3 and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, which is a violation, not a crime. Budden was ordered to lead a law-abiding life. The criminal charges of grand larceny and domestic violence were dismissed.
The case had been pending since Budden’s arrest in August 2014, when he was accused of pushing and choking his ex-girlfriend and stealing her cellphone. The deal that was reached resulted in Budden never being indicted on the original charges of grand larceny, robbery and criminal obstruction of breathing.
Budden’s attorney said that the violation Budden pleaded guilty to is akin to making an unreasonable noise in public or blocking traffic. Both Budden and his attorney said they were very pleased with the outcome.
Charges of domestic violence and grand larceny are very serious, and anyone accused of such a crime should immediately seek the assistance of a qualified and experienced criminal defense attorney. It is very important not to make any statements to police officers before consulting with one’s attorney. The Brill Legal Group has extensive experience defending people accused of grand larceny, domestic violence and other serious criminal charges.
The post Domestic violence and grand larceny charges against rapper Joe Budden have been dropped first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Senators Chuck Schumer of New York and Chuck Grassley of Iowa have introduced legislation to help the families of loved ones with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions that make people prone to wandering.
Kevin and Avonte’s Law is named for two boys with autism who died after wandering. Avonte Oquendo, age 14, drowned in the East River after leaving his New York City school in 2014. Kevin Wills, age 9, drowned in 2008 after jumping into Iowa’s Raccoon River.
The bill would allow grants from the Justice Department to be used for training and education programs operated by nonprofit organizations and law enforcement agencies. The bill would also provide resources to support emergency protocols and tracking technology to promote the safety of individuals who may wander.
After the death of Avonte Oquendo, Sen. Schumer said that Avonte’s wandering was not an isolated incident, and technological solutions such as tracking devices could help. Tracking devices may be attached to the clothing of a person prone to wandering or bolting, whether the person is a child with autism or a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. Sen. Schumer’s original bill was called Avonte’s Law.
The introduction of Kevin and Avonte’s Law was applauded by the Autism Safety Coalition, which is made up of several national organizations. The coalition said that in 2015, 31 people with autism died after wandering away from safety.
Read more about the history Avonte’s Law from our special needs blog:
- Electronic Tracking Devices in Wake of Avonte (by Marion Walsh, Esq., & Stacy Sadove, Esq.)
- Avonte’s Law Addresses School Safety for Children with Special Needs
Learn more about our special needs planning and special education advocacy services at www.littmankrooks.com or www.specialneedsnewyork.com.
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The post Kevin and Avonte’s Law Introduced to Protect People Prone to Wandering first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
Lamont Hamilton, 31, was arrested in January 2015 on charges of opening a fraudulent account at a Chase bank and subsequently trying to withdraw large sums of money. However, he claims he is a victim of identity theft, having had his wallet stolen in 2013. His lawsuit alleges that security footage from the bank clearly shows the perpetrator is not Hamilton and that investigators failed to examine that evidence.
On April 13, 2015, after Hamilton had been at Rikers Island for several months, prosecutors dropped the charges against him. He is suing the city, J.P. Morgan Chase, and several police officers for $5 million.
If the allegations in Hamilton’s suit are true, there is no excuse for the lack of investigative diligence and the foot-dragging that left him languishing in jail for months. At the time Hamilton claims his wallet was stolen, he was on parole for an earlier robbery conviction. Unfortunately, police and prosecutors often are quick to assume that former convicts are probably guilty of charges against them, and this can lead them to cut corners.
Anyone accused of fraud or other serious white-collar crimes needs strong legal representation. If you face criminal charges, an experienced attorney will get you out of jail as fast as possible and critically examine all available evidence. If you need legal defense, call the Brill Legal Group.
The post NYC man jailed on fraud charges claims false arrest, sues city first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Lamont Hamilton, 31, was arrested in January 2015 on charges of opening a fraudulent account at a Chase bank and subsequently trying to withdraw large sums of money. However, he claims he is a victim of identity theft, having had his wallet stolen in 2013. His lawsuit alleges that security footage from the bank clearly shows the perpetrator is not Hamilton and that investigators failed to examine that evidence.
On April 13, 2015, after Hamilton had been at Rikers Island for several months, prosecutors dropped the charges against him. He is suing the city, J.P. Morgan Chase, and several police officers for $5 million.
If the allegations in Hamilton’s suit are true, there is no excuse for the lack of investigative diligence and the foot-dragging that left him languishing in jail for months. At the time Hamilton claims his wallet was stolen, he was on parole for an earlier robbery conviction. Unfortunately, police and prosecutors often are quick to assume that former convicts are probably guilty of charges against them, and this can lead them to cut corners.
Anyone accused of fraud or other serious white-collar crimes needs strong legal representation. If you face criminal charges, an experienced attorney will get you out of jail as fast as possible and critically examine all available evidence. If you need legal defense, call the Brill Legal Group.
The post NYC man jailed on fraud charges claims false arrest, sues city first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
Mental Illness Awareness Week begins this week. Mental illness can have devastating consequences. For example, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people and is often the result of mental health conditions that affect people when they are most vulnerable. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background and often signs go unnoticed. In order to help prevent suicide, one must understand the tools available to help those who may suffer from mental illness.
Teenage suicide in the United States remains comparatively high in the 15 to 24 age group with 4,000 suicides in this age range in 2004, making it the third leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24. In 1999, the suicide rate among adults between the ages of 35 and 64 was 13.7 deaths per 100,000 Americans. By 2010, that rate climbed more than 28 percent to 17.6 suicide deaths per 100,000 people.
If you believe a friend or loved one may be suffering from mental health issues, do not ignore the problem. One can learn effective ways to talk to a person suffering from mental illness or depression and one can talk about suicide without increasing the risk of harm. Family members or friends can and must help.
New York State law provides certain means to protect individuals, even where outreach, therapy, medication and other less restrictive attempts to help have been unsuccessful. Similar laws exist in other states. This article outlines two important legal tools available in New York:
Kendra’s Law
In 1999, several incidents occurred in New York City in which individuals with untreated mental illness became violent and caused severe harm or death to others. Two particular events took place in the city subway system. In one incident, Andrew Goldstein, a 29-year-old man diagnosed with schizophrenia, pushed Kendra Webdale in front of an oncoming N train to her death. Subsequently, Julio Perez, a 43-year-old man with mental illness, pushed Edgar Rivera in front of an uptown 6 train causing the loss of his legs. Both Goldstein and Perez had been discharged by psychiatric facilities with little or no medication.
Kendra’s Law, Section 9.60 of the NYS Mental Health Law, provides a life-saving tool for families, as it can compel an individual to undergo psychiatric treatment. Enacted in 1999, the law honors Kendra Webdale and was originally proposed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). It grants judges the authority to issue orders that require people who meet certain criteria to regularly undergo psychiatric treatment. Failure to comply could result in commitment for up to 72 hours. Kendra’s Law cannot require that a patient take medication against his or her will.
Kendra’s Law intended to create a legal procedure for certain persons, such as family members or friends of mentally ill persons, to petition the court to order alleged seriously mentally ill individuals to accept treatment as a condition for living in the community prior to their becoming “dangerous to self or others.” The legislators agreed that the law should work to prevent violence, not require it. Outpatient commitment represents a less expensive, less restrictive and more humane alternative to inpatient commitment, which requires a person to become a danger to self or others.
A person, 18 years of age or older, who meets one of eight criteria, may petition a court for assisted outpatient treatment for an allegedly mentally ill person. The allegedly mentally ill person must be at least 18 years old, suffering from a mental illness and unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision, based on a clinical determination. The law contains seven defined criteria the court will consider based on a clear and convincing evidence standard.
If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the subject of the petition meets the criteria, and a written treatment plan has been filed, the court may order the subject to receive assisted outpatient treatment.
Involuntary Commitment
Involuntary commitment represents a more restrictive legal course of action to help an allegedly mentally ill person. A family member or friend, or another person who meets one of eleven categories, may request the involuntary commitment of an alleged mentally ill person.
Pursuant to New York State Mental Hygiene Law section 9.27, an alleged mentally ill person may be involuntarily committed to a mental health facility if:
- two physicians agree and present certifications that the person has a mental illness for which care and treatment in a mental hospital is essential to his or her welfare,
- the person’s judgment is too impaired for him or her to understand the need for such care and treatment, or,
- as a result of his or her mental illness, the person poses a substantial threat of harm to self or others. “Substantial threat of harm” may encompass (i) the person’s refusal or inability to meet his or her essential need for food, shelter, clothing or health care, or (ii) the person’s history of dangerous conduct associated with noncompliance with mental health treatment programs.
Peace officers, police officers, or an ambulance service may transport the person alleged to have a mental illness at the examining doctor’s request.
Upon arrival at a mental health facility, a staff psychiatrist of any hospital, other than one of the two original certifying doctors, must examine and confirm that the person meets the involuntary standard. The patient may be held involuntarily for up to 60 days. The patient may be held involuntarily beyond 60 days if the hospital applies for a court order of retention and the court is satisfied the patient continues to meet the Involuntary Standard.
Our society needs more resources and understanding to help those facing mental illness. Individuals and organizations should advocate to the government to provide more accessible and available mental health and counseling services for persons with mental illness. Should treatment, therapy and other less restrictive interventions fail to help an allegedly mentally ill person, loved ones must know that laws exist to allow them to take action to help. Individuals should seek the help of an experienced attorney for this difficult situation.
Learn more about our special needs planning and special education advocacy services at www.littmankrooks.com or www.specialneedsnewyork.com.
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One of the benefits of NORCs is that upon meeting certain requirements, such communities become eligible for funding by authorities at the local, state, and federal levels for support services that members of the older population usually require. Among those services are programs aimed at health care management and prevention, case management and social work, education, recreation, social activities and opportunities to volunteer.
NORCs originated in New York City, and are currently located throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world. A prime example of one of the advantages offered by a NORC is the Seward Park NORC-SSP Supportive Services Program in NYC, which is a place where the seniors of Seward Park can assemble to organize transportation to their doctor’s office, get a flu shot, register for meals on wheels, and engage in leisure-time activities.
Many NORCs are housing cooperatives of limited equity. When purchasing such a cooperative, you spend a lesser amount than that which you would spend on an apartment that sold at market rate. However, you are not permitted to sell the apartment at market rate; rather, you are required to sell the apartment back to the cooperative at a price that is below market rate, thereby maintaining the affordability of the cooperative.
The elder law attorneys at Hook Law Center assist Virginia families with will preparation, trust & estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, long-term care planning, special needs planning, veterans benefits, and more. To learn more, visit http://www.hooklawcenter.com/ or call 757-399-7506.
The post Naturally occurring retirement communities are a popular choice first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The holiday season is just around the corner, which means families are starting to make plans to travel, see loved ones and use up the rest of their vacation days before 2015 begins. So with the idea of time off on many people’s minds, it’s a good time to talk about how things like vacation and sick days work if you employ an in-home caregiver. Many of us are simply told when we began our current job how many vacation days, sick days or personal days we get each year and we just accept that. But did you know there are federal and state labor laws in place that dictate paid time off?
If you employ a caregiver in your home, federal law does not explicitly require you to offer any form of paid time off to your employee. However, in the state of New York, after 1 year of employment, you are required to provide at least 3 paid days off. The law makes no designation whether these should be vacation, personal days or holidays – just that your employee is entitled to have 3 paid days off. Most families that want to attract a quality caregiver probably already offer this minimum, but in case you’re reading this trying to plan the benefits package for your employee, keep that number in mind.
Additionally, if you live in New York City, you’re required to provide 2 days of paid sick time per calendar year after your caregiver has worked for you for 1 year. Any unused sick time is allowed to be carried over to the next year or paid to the caregiver if they are terminated. City law also requires you to keep sick time records for 3 years.
Finally, the state requires you to provide a written notice to your caregiver about your policy on sick leave, vacation, personal leave and holidays. This can be worked into your formal employment agreement and is a great way to get on the same page during the hiring process so your working relationship is positive from the start. Whatever you decide on with your caregiver, just make sure it’s in writing and understood by your employee before they begin working for you. The holiday season is not a good time to have a conversation about how many vacation days your caregiver has left in the year.
If you need help putting together a sample employment contract that includes paid time off, you can find one at Care.com. And if there are other aspects about being a household employer you get stuck with, just visit our state-specific tax page on the HomePay website.
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The post Paid Time Off – What Household Employers Need to Know first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Because of the complexities in hiring private duty care, it’s easy for families to misstep if they don’t have adequate help from the start. In fact, many of the more common household employment payroll and tax mistakes can be avoided by addressing a few key items at the time of hire. So if you’re about to hire in-home care, keep these three things in mind as you’re discussing the details of the employment arrangement with your new employee:
1. Go over the New York Wage Notice together. State law requires all employers to provide a Wage Notice to their employee at the time of hire and again by February 1st of each subsequent year of employment. But aside from complying with the law, the Wage Notice requires a myriad of information that will get both of you on the same page right away, including;
- Your name, address and phone number
- The employee’s hourly and overtime rates of pay
- The day of the week the employee will be paid and what they’ll be paid weekly
2. Talk about your time off policy. Similar to the Wage Notice, the state of New York requires employers to give their employee written notice about their policy on sick leave, vacation, personal leave and holidays. After one year of employment, your employee is entitled to at least three paid days off. And if you live in New York City, you’re required to give your employee two days of paid sick time per year as well. These requirements are important to know – not only from a compliance standpoint, but also because many families overlook time off and are unprepared for when their employee asks for a vacation or calls in sick.
3. Purchase workers’ compensation and disability insurance policies. If your employee will work 40 hours or more per week – or is a live-in employee – you must purchase a workers’ compensation and disability insurance policy. These two items are not handled through the tax and payroll process, but are very important because they provide financial assistance to your employee if s/he is unable to work due to injury or illness. Families caught without coverage can be held liable to pay their employee’s medical bills and lost wages and can be subject to large fines from the state. The most convenient solution for obtaining both a workers’ compensation and disability insurance policy is to contact the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at (877) 632-4996.
By addressing these three topics before your employee starts, you’ll avoid getting off on the wrong foot both with your employment relationship and your payroll and tax situation. Like any new endeavor, mistakes can happen, but if you spend the time to research what your requirements are and come up with a game plan that is easy to execute, household employment doesn’t have to be as complicated as many people make it out to be.
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The post Tax and Legal Issues Household Employers Should Address at the Time of Hire first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The mayor said that in most cases, when a parent wished to move a child to private school for special education, the request would be resolved within 15 days. The city reserves the right to deny claims, which can lead to lengthy litigation if the parents appeal the decision, but the mayor said denial would be the exception, not the rule.
Parents receiving private school tuition funding would not have to reapply each year as long as the child’s special education plan does not change, and paperwork would be required only every three years, instead of every year.
Advocates for special needs students hailed the decision and said that it will be important to make sure the city follows through.
Court rulings have upheld the right of parents to ask the city to pay for private school when public schools do not meet their children’s needs, but the Bloomberg administration had disputed many such requests, saying that the cost was too high. The city spends about $45,000 annually to educate each special education student in public schools, compared to about $65,000 annually for private school tuition. The city is expected to pay more than $200 million in such cases in 2014.
Learn more about Special Education in New York City by visiting www.specialneedsnewyork.com.
Families in need of a private-duty caregiver have a laundry list of items to account for during the hiring process. Most importantly is selecting the right candidate, but once that item is crossed off the list, it’s crucial to account for the expenses of hiring this new household employee.
When you make a caregiver a compensation offer, it is critical that both of you are on the same page as to what the Gross Wages and Net Pay will be. For those in the professional world, this seems like a no-brainer, but it’s actually quite common for caregivers and families to confuse the two. Just to be clear, Gross Wages refers to the amount of money an employee earns prior to taxes being withheld and Net Pay is the amount the employee actually takes home.
So just as in the professional world, if you’re hiring private-duty care, it’s paramount that the compensation offer is in gross wages. It’s impossible for you to know what your caregiver’s Net Pay should be before they accept your offer because you don’t know exactly how much in taxes to withhold until the appropriate paperwork is filled out.
If you have already offered a Net Pay amount, feel free to use our Employee Paycheck Calculator to translate it into Gross Wages. Once the caregiver has filled out a Federal W-4 and a New York IT-2104, the calculator can determine their federal, state, and perhaps local income tax withholdings.
This is extremely important for you to do since all compensation you pay your employee must be reported to the government in terms of Gross Wages. It’s also the figure that will be used to calculate your caregiver’s benefits and your taxes and tax breaks. For example, let’s say a family (who doesn’t live in Yonkers or New York City) offers a candidate $550 a week, but it’s Net Pay. The caregiver is Single with no children, so she fills out her W-4 as Single with 2 allowances and her IT-2014 as Single with 0 allowances. Using our Employee Paycheck Calculator, the family can easily make the adjustment from Net pay to Gross Wages as follows:
Net Pay: $550.00
Social Security Tax: $43.48
Medicare Tax: $10.17
Federal Income Tax: $67.20
State Income Tax: $29.90
State Disability Tax: $0.60
Gross Wages: $701.35
This calculation takes seconds to process and immediately the caregiver can see what her gross wages are, what taxes are being withheld and how much she’ll take home. Additionally, the calculator will also show that the family will need to budget for an additional $62.58 in employer taxes each week, which means their budget for hiring the caregiver is really $763.93 each week.
The main point to take away from looking at these numbers is that open communication is extremely important when discussing compensation with a caregiver. When both of you understand the true cost of hiring an employee and what taxes are involved with being an employee, conflicts are less likely to occur and the employment relationship starts off on the right foot.
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Effective July 1, 2014, the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program has expanded.
Under the program, tenants who are over the age of 61 and who pay more than a third of their income in a rent-regulated apartment may stabilize their rent.
The expansion of the program is expected to add 24,000 older individuals to the 50,000 already enrolled. Community leaders have asked for help in spreading word, as many seniors in New York City may not be aware that they are eligible. The city’s Finance Department will send letters to applicants who were rejected in the past five years due to income requirements to notify them that they may now be eligible.
SCRIE has helped low-income senior tenants since 1970. The program cost the city $124 million last year, and this year New York State will contribute $1.2 million to its expansion.
Seniors who may be eligible can call 311 to request that a form be mailed to them. Alternatively, they may visit the SCRIE page on the New York City government website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/scrie.shtml.
For more information about our elder law services or to talk to a White Plains Estate Planning Attorney, visit www.elderlawnewyork.com.
The post New York’s Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program to Expand first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The accident occurred on the morning of April 4, 2014 on Broadway near West 155th Street in Washington Heights. According to Metropolitan Transit Authority spokesman Kevin Ortiz, witnesses stated that a minivan cut in front of a bus, and the bus T-boned the van. Both vehicles then went onto the sidewalk, and the bus crashed into a pizzeria.
An unidentified woman and her husband, who were walking on the sidewalk, were injured, as were the bus driver and the two occupants of the minivan. None of the injuries were life-threatening. Four of the injured were taken to local hospitals, and one was treated at the scene. The bus was out of service at the time and was not carrying any passengers.
Residents who lived above the pizzeria reported hearing a sound like an explosion and a feeling like an earthquake. One worried that the building was about to collapse. The city’s Department of Buildings sent inspectors to the building to assess its structural integrity. The results of their inspection are expected to take a few days.
Police were reviewing video of the accident captured on surveillance cameras in order to see who was at fault in the accident.
We Focus our Practice Exclusively on Wrongful Death and Critical Injury Cases – Contact a personal injury lawyer at The Lietz Law Firm by calling 866-554-1238 or learn more by visiting http://www.lietzlaw.com/.
The post Five Injured as New York City Bus Crashes Into Minivan, Building first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The controversy surrounding former Indian Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade has captured international media attention. Khobragade was arrested in New York City on December 12, 2013, for allegedly underpaying and exploiting her domestic employee, Sangeeta Richard.
Footage of Khobragade being strip-searched by U.S. federal law enforcement authorities has enflamed passions in India. Many believe she was disrespected and humiliated; advocates insist that she should have avoided such treatment because of her diplomatic immunity. At the same time, many Americans were appalled at Khobragade’s alleged flaunting of U.S. labor laws.
The U.S. attorney for the district of Manhattan, Preet Bharara, filed a memorandum denying Khobragade’s motion to dismiss the visa fraud indictment against her, saying that there was no basis for her immunity.
“Having left the U.S. and returned to India, the defendant currently has no diplomatic or consular status in the U.S., and the consular level immunity that she did have at the relevant times does not give her immunity from the charges in this case, crimes arising out of nonofficial acts,” Bharara said. “The defendant attempts through her motion to concoct a theory of immunity out of a UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) “Blue Card” that she purportedly had for a brief Indian delegation visit to the UN that ended close to three months before her arrest.”
The row that has ensued since Khobragade’s arrest — she left the United States on January 9, 2014 — has frayed U.S.-India relations and has led to some retaliatory measures against American diplomats stationed in India. It remains to be seen, however, whether Khobragade will become a standard image of a mutually embarrassing diplomatic incident or something more damaging.
Practical considerations may simply recapture attention on their own, pushing the Khobragade affair aside. After all, the United States is one of India’s largest trading partners and direct investors, and the two biggest democracies in the world have been increasing their military cooperation in the face of their common rival, China, and its rising power and influence in Asia.
Ultimately, it is likely that interested parties in both the U.S. and India will need to mount a sustained, effective lobbying campaign in the stateside debate over immigration, especially over visas such as the H-1B. Such efforts may help tip the scales in favor of a more immigrant-friendly bill in the U.S. Congress, replacing the possibility of an inappropriate focus on an international incident involving only a handful of people.
A. Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer in Texas. Before selecting an attorney, contact the Law Offices of Annie Banerjee by visiting their information filled web site at http://www.visatous.com.
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The tragedy has prompted his community to call for increased crossing safety for students in the area. According to recent Streetsblog data, this victim was the eleventh New York City resident under 13 to be killed by a driver in 2013.
The young victim was walking to school with his older sister when the truck’s driver turned into a crosswalk. He was rushed to Elmhurst General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The siblings were within a half-block of their school at the time of the accident. No crossing guard was posted at the intersection.
The driver, Mauricio Osorio-Palominos of Newark, New Jersey, is employed by RoadTex Transportation Corporation. His truck’s back wheels struck the third-grader as he entered the intersection.
Osorio-Palominos, 51, waited at the scene of the incident. Police arrested and charged him with driving with a suspended license (aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree) and with operating a vehicle in violation of safety rules.
More charges and lawsuits may be yet to come, but not all of them may be directed against Osorio-Palominos. After such a tragic accident, investigators must examine all possible factors and faults. Did the school have a duty to post a traffic guard? Why was the driver permitted to work for RoadTex with a suspended license? Was visibility at the intersection impaired, and was the roadway maintained properly?
While no lawsuit will bring this child back to his family, careful investigation and thorough legal proceedings may help bring some recompense and justice.
We Focus our Practice Exclusively on Wrongful Death and Critical Injury Cases – Contact a personal injury lawyer at The Lietz Law Firm by calling 866-554-1238 or learn more by visiting http://www.lietzlaw.com/.
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The AARP recently reported a surge in scams targeting seniors in New York City. The actual increase in fraud may be even higher than the AARP suggests, as it is estimated that one third of elderly scam victims do not report the crime.
Scammers often target elders because they are more likely to be home during the day and to have good credit or home equity. Moreover, they are perceived as more trusting and less willing to hang up on a telemarketer. Scams targeting the elderly range from telephone calls attempting to obtain personal information (requesting Social Security numbers on a Medicare-related pretext, for example) to more elaborate scams involving phone reverse mortgages.
Officials say that a legitimate home equity conversion mortgage is insured by the Federal Housing Authority. Seniors may be used as straw buyers in property-flipping scams or drawn into phony reverse mortgages.
Due to the increase in fraud activity, seniors should be vigilant against any unknown person trying to obtain their personal information.
Learn more by contacting New York Guardianship Lawyer, Bernard A. Krooks.
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The population of New York City is aging rapidly. There are 1 million people over the age of 65 living in the city at present, and that number is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2030, the fastest increase in history. Many older New Yorkers rely in part on family members who act as caregivers. A recent AARP survey found that most unpaid, family caregivers experience emotional and financial strain, making resources to help them that much more important.
One of the best sources for information and assistance for NYC caregivers is the New York City Department for the Aging, which can be reached by phone at (212) 504-4115 or on the web at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dfta/html/caregiver/support.shtml.
Another comprehensive source of information is the NYC Caregiving and Respite Directory, available from the New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition at
http://www.nyscrc.org/documents/NewYorkCityCaregivingandRespiteMatrixMKM2_003.pdf.
For more information about our elder law services, contact Littman Krooks, LLP.
The post Resources That Help NYC Caregivers first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The applicable laws are the federal Fair Housing Act, and the Human Rights Laws of New York State and New York City. The city law is the broadest, covering “physical, medical, mental or psychological” impairments. If a landlord or co-op or condominium board challenges the need for the service animal, a doctor’s note will be required at the very least, and depending on the situation, the individual may need to do more to show the connection between the disability and the service animal. In order to deter fraudulent requests for waivers of the no-pet policy, some building owners may require that the dog be registered as a service animal with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Building owners are permitted to ask questions about the evidence an individual submits. Many building owners want to do the right thing and are simply looking for proof of a connection between the disability and the need for the service animal. However, if a request is unfairly denied, or penalties such as extra insurance are required as a condition of accepting the animal, then a a tenant or owner of a co-op or condominium unit may file a discrimination complaint with the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or with the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
For more information about our legal services, visit www.specialneedsnewyork.com.
It is important for parents to be aware of what the common core standards are and how they will affect their children’s education. Parents of children with special needs may also wonder how special education will be integrated with the common core standards.
The common core standards are different from previous standards in that they encourage teachers to delve more deeply into the subject matter that is appropriate for that grade level, rather than attempting to cover too many different topics in a superficial way. As an illustration, kindergarten students in New York were previously expected to learn to count to 20 orally and write the numbers up to 10, and they were also introduced to exercises in identifying and creating numerical patterns, which was intended as a rudimentary introduction to algebra concepts. In the new standards, the focus on patterns has been dropped, and kindergarten students instead focus more intensely on learning to count. Kindergarteners will now learn to count to 100 orally and write the numbers up to 20. Rather than memorizing a list of numbers, the focus will be on making sure students truly understand what numbers mean.
The principle of delving more deeply into fewer subjects holds true for language arts as well. The Common Core also requires students to read more deeply and to read non-fiction. It applies to all grade levels from kindergarten to 12th grade.
The Common Core in New York City school system, the NYCDOE, is initiating changes. The implementation of the common core standards is happening at the same time that changes are being made in the city’s special education system, after a two-year pilot phase. The special education reforms call for more inclusion for students with special needs, with as much integration into general classrooms as is appropriate based on the student’s individual challenges. The city’s academic officers said that separate special education classrooms could be a detriment to students with learning disabilities who are seeking high school diplomas.
There are obvious challenges involved with introducing two different sets of changes simultaneously, and some parents have expressed concern that the new common core standards may be difficult to modify for special education purposes and might create more barriers for special needs students. However, education officials said that the approach makes sense and is part of moving all students toward a higher set of standards.
For more information on the Common Core in New York, visit http://www.engageny.org.
To learn more about our legal services for families with special needs, visit www.specialneedsnewyork.com.
Palliative care is a branch of medicine that focuses on providing relief from the pain and stress of chronic illness. Doctors may be primary care physicians with a specialty in palliative care and may work together with nurses and social workers to improve patients’ quality of life.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that palliative care could not only improve the quality of life for patients, but could result in them living longer. Some evidence indicates that palliative care early on can reduce the amount of time spent in an intensive care unit when admitted to a hospital and can cut medical costs.
According to New York City’s Center to Advance Palliative Care, there are about 90 million Americans living with a serious illness, and many of them could benefit from palliative care. There is access to palliative care in about 1,500 hospitals across the country, double the number in 2007. However, most patients are unaware of the specialty and do not know when it might be appropriate for them.
Experts in palliative care say that it should be sought out at the time a serious illness is diagnosed, and it may be appropriate for patients with cancer, dementia and heart or lung disease. Although some patients who are aware of palliative care equate it with hospice, it is not the same thing. Palliative care is appropriate at every stage of a disease and can benefit patients who are expected to live with an illness for a long time. Hospice is a service offered to patients who are likely to live only a few months or a shorter period of time.
However, because palliative care is a treatment for people facing serious or life-threatening illnesses, a person receiving such care may also be facing end-of-life decisions. An incapacitating illness is traumatic for both the patient and his or her loved ones, and it can be especially difficult to make decisions such as whether life-prolonging measures should be undertaken in different medical situations.
These decisions can be made easier by thinking about and communicating your end-of-life wishes while you are healthy. You can communicate your wishes directly to your loved ones, and you can document them in advance directives such as a living will and health care power of attorney. A living will records your end-of-life wishes for your family and your doctors. Because a living will cannot cover every possible situation, you may also wish to name someone to make your health care decisions for you in the event you are unable to do so, through a health care power of attorney.
As medical treatment, including palliative care, improves, people are living longer. Many older people live with serious illnesses or become incapacitated. Taking the time to plan for such possibilities when you are healthy can preserve your wishes and make things easier for your loved ones.
For more information about our elder law services, visit www.littmankrooks.com.
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The annual cost of a nursing home stay in New York City has increased dramatically, according to an annual survey by Genworth.
In Manhattan, a private room in a nursing home costs $180,000 per year, making Manhattan second only to San Francisco in cost. Nursing homes in other parts of New York are expensive as well. The cost is $160,000 per year in Long Island and $140,000 in Queens. New York is far above the overall median nursing home cost in the United States, which is $84,000 per year.
The cost is significant for nearly all families, and staggering for many, especially given that the average stay in a nursing home is two-and-a-half years.
Experts say high prices in New York are driven by higher costs for property, maintenance, insurance and staffing.
While the cost of a nursing home stay has continued to rise about 5 percent per year, the cost of home health care has remained more in line with the national average. The average cost of a home health aide in Manhattan is $22 per hour, while the national average is $19 per hour.
Learn more at http://www.elderlawnewyork.com/elder-law/.
The post Cost of Nursing Home Stay in New York Increases first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>So, what kinds of issues need to be addressed with your trust and estates lawyer? Whether you live in Bloomfield Hills, MI or New York City, there are some basic questions that absolutely must be answered.
You and Your Spouse
One of the most difficult issues to contemplate is what should happen if you and your spouse were both killed together. While the chance of passing away at the same time is relatively low, it happens. Laws are typically set up so that one spouse’s estate passes to the surviving spouse, but when both are gone at the same time, things get a little more complicated.
For example, those with minor children need to put serious thought into who will become their children’s guardian. If you don’t make these decisions in advance, the courts will make them for you; and their choices may not reflect your own. It’s not uncommon for grandparents to receive custody of the children in these cases if they are still living, but that still leaves open the question of which spouse’s parents would be chosen. If you have a preference (or want someone else chosen), then you need a trust and estates lawyer in Bloomfield Hills, MI to help you make those wishes legally binding.
Children are not the only concern, of course. Should you and your spouse be killed or incapacitated, who will take care of your finances, inherit your home, or even take care of your pets? These are all issues which need to be considered in advance.
You and Someone Else
Your Bloomfield Hills estate planning lawyer isn’t just being nosey if he or she asks if there is someone in your life besides your spouse who may have a claim to your property. This definitely falls into the category of “uncomfortable questions,” but if you had a relationship with someone other than your spouse, he or she may come forward after your death with the expectation of receiving an inheritance.
This can also be the case with family members who are estranged. If you have a child you are no longer in contact with, he or she may still have a claim to your property. Long-lost siblings or parents to whom you are no longer speaking can also still have a claim. By setting out your plan with a trust and estates lawyer in Bloomfield Hills, you can help to ensure that only those you want to inherit will do so.
As a final note in this area of “uncomfortable topics,” if you and a spouse, previous spouse, or other person have chosen to store genetic material such as eggs, sperm, or embryos, you need to have plans for what is to become of this material. Not only do you need to consider the material itself, but you also need to consider who might end up with children that have been conceived after you die.
Each of these issues is complicated in and of itself, but in order to come up with a workable estate plan, they must all be considered. If your trust and estates lawyer in Bloomfield Hills doesn’t bring up some of these questions but they apply to you, it is in your best interest to bring it up now to avoid problems with your estate later.
The post Awkward Moment! Facing Uncomfortable Issues With Your Trust and Estates Lawyer in Bloomfield Hills first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>“Stop this madness,” Willimina howled, as she accidentally stepped in a puddle with her new designer heels. Willimina Hayslett just flew into Los Angeles from New York City to visit her clients regarding her new fall line. Although it hardly ever rains in Los Angeles, she managed to find a muddy pool of water to step into. In the northeast, muddy puddles were just synonymous to the unpredictability of spring.
She was polished and dressed impeccably, for she was a walking symbol of ultimate fashion. But she was, on the other hand, never an optimist. Even as a baby she cried every time her mother tried to put her into her favorite fleece sweater. “Look at that thing, it’s hideous, you would cry too if you had to wear it,” she said to her boyfriend, who was looking with her through her old baby photos. She had a series of handsome boyfriends, but not one was ever suited or stylish enough for her.
“No, not the Willimina Hayslett heels!” exclaimed a man who just witnessed the event.
Willimina looked up to look at the most stylish and debonair man she had ever seen.
“How did you know that these were…?”
“Are you kidding me? Willimina Hayslett is my specialty! I have a store on Rodeo and I sell her stuff. You should come and visit since you are also a big fan of her and you can perhaps get a new pair of heels.”
Perhaps he didn’t recognize who she was with her big black shades, or maybe it was because her hair was up. But then again, she remembered that she didn’t care for photographers too much and avoided them all like a plague, so not too many pictures of her circulated, not even at fashion week in New York or Milan.
“Thank you,” said Willimina, “but I have too many of her stuff in my warehouse, too.”
“Would you care to join me at the café here, where I was sipping my coffee before I witnessed the tragedy?”
Willimina didn’t have to go anywhere until the next day, so she obliged. During the course of their encounter, she learned that his name was William Hatsfield and that he was originally from Powers Lake, South Dakota – not the hybrid of luxurious living that she hoped for but he, after all, was certainly a big fan of her work. As she looked down at her waterlogged heels, she wondered if she should tell him?
Then she remembered what Matt Lockhard, the independent California insurance agent said, “Don’t have to tell the whole story all the time in order for them to believe you!”
“I would love to see your store while I’m in California,” she said to William just short of being interrupted by her cell phone. “Excuse me for a moment, William. Hello, mother…yes, yes, I see… How is the weather in Powers Lake?”
At that moment, William forgot about his infatuation with Willimina Hayslett and fell in love with a hometown girl.
To learn more please visit: http://www.mattsinsurance4ca.com
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