From time to time, developments in the law occur which we think are important to our clients and our practice. We would like to let you know about those developments and we have created a Web page just for that purpose. 

If you would like us to let you know when we have added a discussion or when we have published a New Development, please submit your email information to us.

* Some pages are in PDF format. If you do not have a PDF reader you can download one here (the download is free).

•   Reformation Of A Testamentary Trust Permitted To As To Establish A Third Party Supplemental Needs Trust
   
• Step Children Claim that Marital Deduction was Improper

• How Does Medicaid Count Retirement Accounts When Applying For Benefits (PDF format*)

• Medicaid Statute Passes Congress and Awaits President's Signature (PDF format*)
  
  
• Restrictive Medicaid Changes Getting Ready for President's Signature (PDF format*)
  
  
• Executors' intention to evict daughter of decedent's residence is successful but could backfire on them 
  
  
• Can a person employ A Power of Attorney to effect an amendment to a revocable trust? 
  
  
• Kentucky Department of Social Services is Reversed on Medicaid Annuity
  
  
• A Power of Attorney provided that the Agent may make gifts "...To my spouse, children and more remote descendants, and the parents in any amount, even to the Attorney(s)-in-Fact themselves." 
  
  
• The New Transfer on Death Security Registration Act
  
  
• Florida Decision Holds That A Patient is Not Dutibound To Arbitrate When Not A Signatory

• Court Issues - whether a spouse may be treated other than as a spouse for purposes of Gifting
  
  
• Basics About Reverse Mortgages
     
• 2005 Governor's Proposals as they affect Medicaid in New York
  
  
• Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance increased by courts
  
  
• NJ  weighs in on Medicaid planning by a guardian
  
  
• Was it a Gift or a Loan?

• Proposed changes for people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  
  
  
• Is an Agent designated in a New York Health Care Proxy entitled to hospital Medical Records under HIPAA?
  
  
• An Expansion of Medicare Coverage
  
• Supplemental Needs Trust Court does away with annual accounting
  
  
• Is Retroactive Gifting Permitted Under Medicaid Rules
  
  
• Taxpayer May Deduct as a Medical Expense a Portion of Maintenance Payments in a Continuing Care Retirement Community

• Executor can not give
  Power of Attorney to Co Executor
• Doctor - Patient Privilege is Alive and Well
  
  
• Medicaid Monthly Regional Rates - 2004
  (PDF format*)
  
  

• Medicaid Basic Rules - 2004
  (PDF format*)
  
  

• Transfer and Discharges At Nursing Homes
  
  

• Nursing Home Bed Hold Policy
  
  

• Recent Changes in the Estate Tax Laws Means It's Time to Review Your Wills!
  
  

• Sale of Home Owned By Living Trust
  
  

• Spousal Post Eligibility Transfers
  
  

• US Supreme Court to Decide Whether Income First Rule is Correct
  
  

• Transfer Asset Penalty Rules
  
  

• The Florida Connection - Part 2
  
  

• The Florida Connection - Part 1
  
  
• Letter to Custodians and \or Trustees of IRAs or Other Retirement Plans
  
  
• New IRA and Retirement Distributions Simplified
  
  
• New Revocable Trust Rules
  
  
• Social Security Administration Penalizes Certain Asset Transfers
  
  
• Gifts Under a Power of Attorney Challenged
  
  
• Admission to a Nursing Home
  
  
• Medicaid Liens and Supplemental Needs Trusts
  
  
• Classifying Nursing Homes
  
  
• Using Life Estates
  
  
• Medicare Basics
  
  
• Liens Under Medicaid
  
  
• IRS Attacks Grits Which Use Debt to Defer Annuity Payments
  
  
• New Jersey Does Away with Rule Against Perpetuities
  
  
• Trust as a Beneficiary of a Retirement Plan or IRA
  
  
• Effect of Withdrawals From a Joint Account
  
  
• Voidable Power of Attorney Negates Gifts
  
  
• Joint Accounts and Survivorship
  
  
• Appeals Court Reduces Gift Values By Recipient's Potential Income Taxes
  
  
• Private Pay Reimbursement Not Forthcoming for People Who Get Medicaid in a Nursing Home
  
  
• Using Joint Wills
  
  

• Homestead Protection for Nursing Home Residents
  
  

• Income First: New Jersey joins New York