202002.21
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A Practical Guide to Guardianship and Conservatorship in Missouri (part 1 of 2)

A guardianship proceeding is a legal process of determining a person’s capacity and the ability he or she has to make decisions regarding his or her health, safety and welfare. The person at issue is generally referred to as the Respondent until a final determination is made. Once he or she is determined to be…

What seniors should know about probate
201911.15
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What seniors should know about probate

“Where there’s a Will, there are 500 relatives” is a humorous take on the less desirable probate outcome for many Americans. But probate itself is not your enemy. Sometimes it can be a benefit. For example, the following instances often benefit from a court administering a decedent’s estate in probate: (1) family members and other…

What seniors should know about debt collection (second part of a two-part article)
201910.25
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What seniors should know about debt collection (second part of a two-part article)

In part one of this article, we discussed the substantial increase in consumer debt by older Americans and the anticipated increase of subsequent debt collection efforts against older Americans. Thereafter, we began a discussion of what seniors should know about debt collection so as to prepare for that unwelcome event should it arise. We now…

201909.26
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What seniors should know about debt collection – part one of two

This two-part article takes a look at what seniors should know about debt collection. Americans are going further and further into the red. Experian Information Solutions reports that consumer debt in the United States reached $13 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2018. Helping to comprise that total debt are credit card debt at $834…

201908.29
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Getting your pre-disability affairs in order

No one ever plans to be sick or disabled, yet it does happen. While seniors comprise the majority of disabled people in the United States, working-aged adults are not immune to the risk of becoming disabled permanently or temporarily. According to the Council for Disability Awareness, 5.6 percent of working Americans will experience a short-term…

201906.24
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Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility

The choice of a long-term care facility is challenging, but chances are very good that you, along with many Americans will someday be faced with the need to find such a facility for themselves or a loved one. How many Americans make are required to find a long-term care facility you ask? According to the…

201904.30
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Wills v. Trusts – Do you know the difference?

So, you are advancing in age and you know you owe your family members the duty of establishing an estate plan with a professional. Good for you. In some instances, the realization that estate plans are necessary comes too late such as when an unexpected death occurs. In those instances, the intestacy succession laws found…

201903.19
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Alcohol abuse among seniors – a growing trend

The United States and alcohol consumption go hand in hand. Throughout the history of our great country, Americans have struggled to find a healthy balance between reasonable alcohol consumption and the over indulgence of intoxicating beverages. Our forefathers, seeking a new life in America, brought with them a culture of alcohol consumption, and sometimes alcohol…

201903.12
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Reverse mortgages – the good, bad and the ugly

Congratulations seniors, these are your Golden Years. Your Social Security check exceeds your expenses and your children are all doctors and lawyers who never ask for handouts and seem terribly happy with their lives. You have very few wrinkles and a head full of dark hair. Your home continues to appreciate annually and your mortgage…

201902.22
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Should Seniors Create a Written Contract When Paying Relatives for Elder Care?

According to the State of Missouri’s Office of Administration, our state’s elderly population has increased more consistently and proportionately than any other age group. While Missouri residents age 65 and over represented only 10% of the population in 1950, by 2030 the Office of Administration predicts their numbers will represent more than 20% of all…