Protecting Your Legacy for Those You Love

At MHK, we are committed to giving you the highest quality of service because we are not only in the business of protecting wealth and assets, we are in the business of protecting your legacies.  Our job is to care for your exclusive interests, so that your plan is carried out in the exact way you want, when you want, and how you want.

We are available to help solve any problems or to answer any questions you may have.  We will also contact you from time to time concerning possible issues with your funding documents, specific trust provisions, law changes and other matters that might be unique to you.  We know that creating an estate plan can be a trying time for many, and we want to alleviate anxious feelings and make your planning efforts a positive experience.

All we ask of you is this –  if you are pleased with the level of service, and we have delivered beyond your expectations, please tell your friends, family, coworkers and others you know that we are your estate planning attorneys.  We will provide them with the same quality of service you now enjoy.  The highest compliment you can give to our firm is a referral of someone you care about.

Thank you for choosing MHK to be your premier estate planning law firm!

- See more at: http://morristrust.com/2014/09/protecting-legacy-love/#sthash.ctcRCNcV.dpuf

The Positive Impact of Owning a Wheelchair Van

Dealing with a disability can be tough for anyone of any age. When someone loses the ability to walk due to their disability, that person may feel like they have lost a great deal of their independence and freedom. Many disabled individuals have to regularly rely on the care of others, especially for transportation. Getting to doctor appointments and running errands becomes a day long task that often leaves the disabled individual exhausted, especially if the vehicle being used for transportation purposes is not designed for those who are in wheelchairs. One way that disabled individuals can regain some of the precious freedom they feel they have lost is through the use of a wheelchair van.

Owning a wheelchair van is a life changing event. These vans make travelling much easier and enjoyable, while also enabling the disabled individual to load themselves into the vehicle without the help of another. This alone can boost the spirits of the individual and make them feel like a normal person again. These handicap vans are fitted with special technology such as wheelchair lifts or ramps that allow a person in a wheelchair to get into the vehicle. The handicap accessible vans are modified so that there is additional headspace for the safety of the person in the wheelchair. There is also safety equipment installed on the inside of the vehicle to keep the individual in place during travel.

If you are looking to help restore a sense of independence to your life or in the life of someone you love who has a disability, then you need to look into getting awheelchair accessible van today. Ability Center has a wide selection of mobility products and handicap vans to meet the individual needs of you and your family. Aside from having a wide selection of vans, they also have wheelchairs and scooters that you can purchase as well.

To learn more, visit us at www.AbiltiyCenter.com 

Udall Senior Health Fair Extravaganza Recap!

The Udall Senior Health Fair that was held September 25, 2014 was fabulous! It was a pleasure to see so many of our SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options advertisers and others who joined in.   Thanks Everyone, it was a great day!

Thank you to all those who stopped by our SPOTLIGHT booth with Liz Olsen, Tucson SPOTLIGHT Representative and Samantha Marques, Recreation Assistant with Udall Regional Center.

CareMore booth with Tony Nguyen & Candance Leyvas

 Right At Home booth where we have Adam Bliss, Cola Bliss and daughter Bronte Bliss

 Atria Campana Del Rio with Claes Ommegard, Atria Bell Court with Laura Bohring and Atria Bell Valley Manor with Emily King

 Veronica Borquez-Bernal with Handmaker Adult Day Program 

ALTCS Enforces Travel Limitations

Q: My husband and I live in Arizona, but most of our family lives out-of-state.  Like many other couples of our age, we like to spend our summers in cooler climates, so we typically stay with our son, who lives in another state, for about four months of the year.  If I apply for the ALTCS program, will ALTCS have any problems with me maintaining this type of a travel schedule?

I should preface this response by reminding you that ALTCS imposes a very strict medical requirement on its members.  As such, if you are healthy enough to maintain a rigorous travel schedule, even spending summers out of state, it could be that you are also too healthy to qualify for the ALTCS benefit.  Of course, being too healthy for ALTCS implies that you do not need long-term care, and will thus not have the associated expenses.  All in all, then, being too healthy for ALTCS should not be too distressing.

As to the question on hand, ALTCS does have a limit on the number of days for which its members can leave the state without losing eligibility, and this limit is 60 days.  The rationale here is certainly not to prevent interstate travel; so much as it is to ensure that ALTCS members are receiving the care that they presumably require.  Again, ALTCS provides long-term care coverage only to those individuals who actually require long-term care.  At least to all outward appearances, an individual who is well enough to forego care for months on end while out-of-state is presumably without a genuine need for long-term care.  At a certain point in time, then, for coverage reasons as well as for general well-being reasons, it will make sense for you and your husband to settle upon one state of residence.

Aging and the Law is authored by the attorneys at JacksonWhite and addresses legal issues that arise for the elderly and their families.  Questions can be sent to firm@jacksonwhitelaw.com.

Click to view all of our Aging and the Law columns.

Why Is It Important To Have Your Trust Reviewed?

Elder Law, Estate Planning

I recently met with a couple who created their trust several years ago in another state.  After they moved to Arizona, they knew that they should have the trust reviewed, but they were busy with life and trying to keep up with their grandchildren.  Lately, one of their close friends passed away leaving his wife with a mess.  This motivated them to come in and meet with me.  What we found, while not surprising to me, was stunning to them.

Most of their assets were not in their trust!  The health care documents and financial powers of attorney were not up to date or compliant with Arizona law.  Their trust did not give them the significant benefits of community property, and there were no protections for the surviving spouse after the first death, or for their children after both of them pass.

Fortunately, we have been able to address these issues by creating a properly drafted Living Trust that has the benefits of all the latest law changes and planning strategies.  It is important that your trust be properly drafted under current laws to provide such benefits as protections for the surviving spouse and other beneficiaries from estate taxes, capital gains taxes, income taxes, creditors, ex-spouses, bankruptcy, spend-down for long-term care, spendthrift tendencies, predators and other potential losses of the assets they receive from you.  It is also essential that all your documents be reviewed to assure that your assets are properly titled to your trust.

There have been significant changes in the law that have positive and negative effects upon your estate plan.  If your documents are brought current, there is much more you can do to protect your affairs than what was previously available.  Ensuring that your plan is current provides not only protection, but great peace of mind that your spouse and loved ones will be properly provided for.  What you have worked hard to acquire and protect can actually be received and enjoyed by those you choose.

Contributed by MHK Cave Creek, Phoenix and Flagstaff Estate Planning Attorney B. West Hunsaker.

What the Attorneys of Morris, Hall & Kinghorn Can Do For You:
The attorneys at Morris, Hall & Kinghorn have 100’s of years of combined experience ensuring that families’ assets are protected from probate, unnecessary taxes, creditors, ex-spouses and Medicaid spend-down.  The attorneys also help those in Arizona and New Mexico to apply for and receive Medicaid assistance and Veterans Benefits.  Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead.  Our New Mexico offices are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.

- See more at: http://morristrust.com/2014/08/important-trust-reviewed/#sthash.tztqbFWY.dpuf

What Happens After You Die and You Own Property In More Than One State?

Attorney Wendy Harn, Business Planning, Estate Planning

Like a lot of Americans, you may live in one state and own real estate or tangible personal property in a second state. If you don’t have proper estate planning completed, the intestacy laws of two different states will determine who will inherit your property; and the end result may well be two different sets of beneficiaries. And what about property owned in three different states? Three different intestacy laws will apply and you’ll possibly end up with three different sets of beneficiaries.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the average cost of one probate is approximately 7% of the value of the total estate.  For example, let’s assume I live in Arizona and own my home in Arizona; own a beach house in California; and own lake front property in Michigan.  These three properties would cause three separate probates. And what about the costs involved? Each probate would have its own cost. These probate fees would be taken out of the total estate before distribution to any of the beneficiaries.

The only way to insure that your property will go to the beneficiaries of your choice, when you want them to receive your property, and in the way that you want them to receive it with the least possible delay and expense, is to create a proper estate plan.

Contributed by MHK Tucson Estate Planning Attorney Wendy W. Harn.

About Morris, Hall & Kinghorn:
At Morris, Hall & Kinghorn, we have focused our legal practice on estate planning for over 40 years.  Along with estate planning, our attorneys help clients and their families with matters of probate, trust administration, wills, power of attorneys, business planning, succession planning, legacy planning, charitable gifting and other important legal aspects.  We also have divisions in financial, real estate and accounting to help you incorporate all of your planning together, ensuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead.  Our New Mexico offices are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

Visit us online at http://morristrust.com/2014/08/happens-die-property-one-state/