Planning for Dementia

I regularly cross paths with people who suffer from dementia.  Dementia is a heavy burden, but there are ways to make it easier for you and your family.  First, learn about your family history, and the role genetics play in the common types of dementia.  The Alzheimer's Society has a post that may provide a good starting point  https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=168 .  Knowing if you are at risk may help you detect dementia early on, which benefits medical professionals.

Detecting dementia is not only valuable to health care professionals, it also allows your attorney to help you.  For instance, an attorney can assist you in planning for long-term care, which needs to be done years in advance.  Also, you must be mentally competent in order to sign legal paperwork. Thus, you want to get your power of attorney documents in place while you are still in good mental health.

ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

Fast Facts on Political Candidates

I recently saw an article about Donald Trump's childhood home going up for sale on CNN Money.  You don't have to wait on a news article to find out more about where candidates grew up or where they live now. Assuming that the political candidate owns a home in his/her name, all you need to know is the county where the property is located.  It is easy to get addresses and home values. Property information is public record, and many county's have it online for free.  For instance, if you go to Johnson County's web page you can search by name or address.  http://land.jocogov.org/landsearch.aspx

If you can't find your county's search page by looking online then give the county a call.  I have found many county employees to be helpful over the years.

Happy Hunting!
















Photo Credit= http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/18/real_estate/donald-trump-queens-home-auction/index.html

ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

A Will Does Not Save You From Probate Court

Many of my clients are shocked when they learn that wills go through probate court.  This means that their loved ones have to pay for an executor/administrator, lawyer, and court fees even though they went to the work of getting a will.  Additionally, their family has to wait months before the estate is  settled. 

Generally, the way for your loved ones to avoid the time and expense involved with going to court is for you to hire an estate planning attorney while you are alive.  The attorney may draft transfer on death documents and create a plan to help you avoid probate.  Or, you may be a candidate for a trust, which will also keep you out of court.  Regardless of which option you select, a reasonable estate planning attorney should cost less than probate. 

For more information about how probate works go to the Kansas Bar Association’s page http://www.ksbar.org/?probate

ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

Facing the Facts: It is time to talk to Grandpa and Grandma

Most people my age are in the same boat, we have at least one parent age 65 or older.   That means that we all have to face harsh realities, because the majority of people who need long-term care are in our parents’ age bracket.   Moreover, Social Security is designed to become insolvent in the next twenty years.  This makes private funds even more vital in retirement and estate planning.

According to Missouri Attorney Melissa Leavy, the average nursing home stay ranges from $5,000 to $6,000 per month per parent.  Using her math, having two parents in long-term care could cost anywhere from $120,000 to $144,000 each year.  Our parents can quickly burn through their retirement savings at this rate.  Moreover, many of us do not have an additional $144,000 to spare each year.  

There are a variety of options available to people who want to plan for long-term care.  However, the majority of these methods need to be implemented many years before our parents enter the nursing home.  This means that the best time to talk to our parents about their plans for the future is when they are healthy and early in their retirement.  Planning with healthy parents also allows you to frame the conversation in terms of if you would need long-term care rather than in terms of when you go to the nursing home.  This is an easier conversation for everyone. 




ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

To read more about the future of social security http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-09-09/clinton-trump-campaigns-turn-social-security-politics-on-its-head

Adding More Hours to the Day

We have all needed extra help at one point or another.  For instance, we have called pizza delivery, the plumber, the babysitter, etc.   I recently had a client who needed more help at home, and we decided to set up a trust to free up her time.   A trust allows her to focus on priorities while someone else pays the bills, manages her investments, and does her taxes.  In situations like this one, regulated entities such as banks manage client affairs.  However, clients can maintain control and flexibility.  This allows them to end the trust if they no longer want the help.

I am sure you are thinking, "yes, that all sounds great for the rich and famous"… However, the fantastic part about this story is that my client was just an ordinary lady from small town America.  Many Americans can use trusts to leverage more time or to reduce responsibility.  The only real catch is that laws vary by state.  So you should meet with a local estate planning attorney before you get started. 

ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

More life changing than Pokémon Go

Law school is a life changing experience and will do more than augment your reality.  Check out the scholarships from the Kansas Bar Association.

Awards vary from $1,000 to $2,000.  Go to http://www.ksbar.org/page/scholarships



ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

Life does not need to be a Worst Lawyer Ever episode

Americans spend a lot of time laughing at videos like the Worst Lawyer Ever (go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reSS9WWHkd4).  While it is fun to laugh, it does nothing to help the people who must participate in the system.  We need to help them find good attorneys.

If you need legal help the quickest fix is to ask for a referral from someone who works with the legal community.  For example, if you need to get a divorce, ask an attorney who is not in competition with divorce attorneys for a referral.  You can ask an attorney who works in government law, you can ask an attorney who practices in business law, you can ask a criminal defense lawyer, and so forth.  Conversely, if you need someone to draft a will then it would be a good idea to ask lawyers who only do family law, because they are not trying to sell their services.  People who work with attorneys such as accountants, financial planners, etc. can also be great resources.

If there is no way to find someone to give you a referral then you can check public records.  It is not hard to find out who is getting into trouble.  If you are in Kansas, you can look up your attorney for free and from a legitimate source.  This information comes from the government and is objective (see http://www.kscourts.org/rules-procedures-forms/attorney-discipline/cases.asp). 

If you don't live in Kansas and want to find the bar admission agency in your state the ABA has a map with information.  Just click on your state (http://www.ncbex.org/jurisdiction-information). Your bar admission agency should be able to tell you how to determine if an attorney is licensed.

ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

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