Atlanta Personal Family Lawyer

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"Open the Pod Doors, HAL!..." Part IV--High Tech, Disabilities, & Monitoring Bluetooth is the best thing that's happened to remote controls since the advent of infra-red technology made them easier than radio. For those with disabilities, connectivity to smart devices is making vast improvements in not only functionality, but in performance of daily routines. Two examples are: hearing aids and assistance for the cognitively impaired. Companies are making available hearing aid...Continue reading

"Open the pod doors, Hal!" continued--Space Aging in a Hi-Tech Universe Medication Reminders New tools are already available to remind folks to take their medications. These of course avoid problems such as mixing doses, which can make an existing problem worse or even lead to an otherwise unnecessary hospitalization. Taking meds on time every time and no more times than appropriate will lead to lower costs for everyone--including the healthcare industry.... Portable Diagnostic Devices As we alluded to in a previous post, many hi-tech diagnostic devices are now portable, alleviating the need for the patient to report to a lab for testing. As we age, more frequent tests are required so that providers can monitor existing conditions , diagnose new ones, or simply maintain status on a person's overall health. These new devices perform blood and urine tests, store, process, and instantly transmit data to providers for analysis. Such real-time reporting allows earlier diagnosis of problem areas thereby allowing earlier treatment--again resulting in lower healthcare costs all-around. Emergency Responder Systems These individualized systems have been around a while. Updates during the new "Internet of Things" era have added to their utility such that they can detect a fall, alert family or care providers if a dementia patient has wandered outside a protected area, and even help guide a person back home safely through GPS technology. These smarter devices enable caregivers to multi-task such as buying groceries, running errands, or just working. Airbags are being built into belts (see ActiveProtective smart belts) to prevent fall-related injuries. Meanwhile, the belt signals providers that the wearer has fallen and will need assistance. We'll go into a few other areas next post. Meanwhile, if you or a family member needs to look into a matter--contact us either by phone, through email, or use the scheduling robot to set an appointment. We offer comprehensive analysis and solutions to address all aspects of Retirement Income Planning.

Roles for Tech in Long-Term Care (1): Today's One-Time Testing Labs Will Morph Into Real-Time Monitoring and Evaluation Services We anticipate that today's discrete element testing services such as the LabCorp and Quest Diagnostic types, will morph into real-time data gathering models using wearable or implantable devices. Implants like pacemakers have been around for decades. So we'd expect little push-back on those such devices. If we compare that experience with the new im...plantable glucometers, which can be implanted directly into the senior’s body to track vitals, then perhaps we will get a more welcoming atmosphere for hi-tech monitoring devices. The key to understanding the monitoring is to understand that the information gathered upon which the care team makes decisions is always accurate. Because they are connected, data from these personal devices will be sent to cloud servers by such firms where it will be analyzed and crunched to determine individual patient trends and insights for the patient themselves, and their doctors and family. Ongoing reports will show important discoveries such as a decline in sleeping or exercise, or that insulin levels rise or drop at certain points in the day. Medical intervention can also occur immediately when required. So this type of real-time monitoring will occur not only in hospitals, where we have grown accustomed to IV monitors and such constantly clicking off data observations, but also in the home and about town--for off-site physicians as well as the patient themselves or family members. For those persons suffering from cardiac, diabetes, or hypertension, hi-tech solutions come as biometric sensors, and smart glucometers. These wearable devices track vital signs and send emergency emails or texts in real time to care providers if current reading are outside expected parameters. They can also detect low levels of movement and "abnormal sleeping habits." Such constant data gathering and monitoring to state individual norms and tracking against those provides necessary information needed by care teams so they can track behavior patterns and check on patients as required. Before we go into the privacy concerns that should be clicking off alarm bells in your minds, we'll go through several other areas where tech will be constantly monitoring us. "I always feel like somebody's watching me...."

The Squeeze: Recent estimates predict that the population of adults 85 and older in the U.S. will almost triple over the next 40 years. Simultaneously, the working-age population is expected to decline. This means the people requiring support--the elderly--will outnumber the ones able to provide such support, financially and otherwise. AARP calls this the caregiver cliff." Meanwhile, costs to provide health care are expected to grow by over 200% for those between the ages o...f 70 and 90. We already see that governments, payers, and manufacturers, aren't really producing reductions in healthcare costs. So, seniors need care solutions in order to be prepared for this impending rise in costs. Enter Technology: The new developments in robot and AI technology is expected to employ virtual home assistants and portable diagnostic devices that will be able to help provide better elder care, help control medical costsand allow more seniors to stay in their homes longer. The question is how receptive seniors will be to this technological intrusion into their lives. Those in their 50s now will probably be more open to relying on technolgoy, while those 20 years older may feel very uncomfortable accepting these changes. Consequently, there will be a growing interest and market for already available and maturing technologies to support physical, emotional, social and mental health. Stay tuned with this space as my new book comes out soon that addresses these realities: The 4Ts of Retirement Income Planning. I'm staying on the cutting edge of planning--make sure you're there with me!

Congratulations to Vance Howard, Mike Rowe and the rest of the team over at Howard Capital Management with whom we work for winning Investor's Business Daily's award for Best Mutual Fund Less Than 5 Years Old--33.2% 1 year total return! We're pleased to bring HCM's expertise to our clients. CALL US to learn more about putting HCM's expertise to work for your family! https://www.investors.com//best-mutual-funds-awards-by-ca/

From our blog post this week on Dementia and its impact on family caregivers (http://wrnicholslaw.com), check out this link for some caregiving tips for family members caring for dementia patients: http://dailycaring.com/12-dementia-care-tips-caregivers-wi/

Join me this afternoon for a 90-minute discussion on Longevity Planning, focused primarily on the public option: Medicaid. Discussion includes: Eligibility; Excluded Assets; Income issues; Asset Transfer issues; and Estate Recovery. 1.5 CLE credits. Great discussion for Nursing Home Admins, Estate Planners, Investment Advisors, CPAs, and care managers. This will also be simulcast on West Legal Center Here: http://westlegaledcenter.com/pro/program_question_view.jsf

Capgras syndrome is arguably the most painful type of dementia for spouses and close family members. It affects 16.6% of cases of Lewey body dementia. Robin Williams was diagnosed with Lewey body. Institutionalization is a given. Early planning remains the optimal solution to the costs of longevity. Contact us to discuss your situation.

Join us online Thursday, April 5, 2018 for an NBI-sponsored national conversation on longevity planning generally. I'll be speaking on private vs public solutions, Medicaid planning, liens, estate recovery and hardship waivers, specifically. This program airs from 10am EDT to 5pm EDT and offers up to 6 hours CLE including 1 hour of ethics. Phone in with questions afterwards!

Is a Long-Term Care Asset Protection Plan Right for You? Do you have concerns about: Running out of money if you (or your spouse) become ill and require significant care Having no control over who provides care for you if you need it Choosing the type of care you want and where you want to receive it... Leaving an inheritance to your loved ones, only to have it taken by their creditors Your children misusing the property or money you leave to them Providing support to a loved one with a disability both during your lifetime and after your passing Making sure your wishes about care and your finances are carried out If you answered yes to any of the questions above, . A long-term care asset protection plan is not a one-size-fits-all set of documents. Each plan is designed based on your concerns, your desires, and your goals. See more

NBI's new CLE on Elder Law: New MEDICAID Rules, Requirements and Changes - Are You Ready?, airs 11/28/2017. Check here to learn more: http://bit.ly/2hZavmh. PS: the 1 hour Ethics discussion alone is worth the price of admission. Why? Because I discuss things most lawyers haven't thought of (at least in a long time) and also how to price your services and niche market your firm's practice. Join Tom Murphy (30+ yrs experience MA&AZ), Whitney Wilson (10+ yrs Preeminent Elder Law practice in KY) and I discuss Appeals and other aspects of this very technical (and booming) field of law.

Join me tomorrow at Cobb Galleria Centre 9-4:30pm 2 Galleria Pkwy SE Atlanta, GA 30339 770-955-8000... We'll be talking all things Wills & Trusts generally. I'll speak on Ethics, Documenting Long-Term Care, Incapacity, and End of Life Decisions.

So, this opinion (Schultz v Schultz CV2016-0316FC) shows how child support works in Arizona: Mother asked that the $18,000 Father paid her directly for child support directly not be credited to Father's child support obligation because Father failed to pay such sums through the Child Support Clearinghouse system as required by statute. The trial court (Maricopa County Superior) found Mother's position to be hypertechnical and unreasonable and agreed with Father and zapped Mother for attorney fees and costs. Mother appealed. The Court of Appeals upheld the ruling and scorched Mother for additional attorney fees and costs incurred on appeal. Don't be greedy!

Hey, if you need CLE credits for 2017 or just need to be up to speed on helping clients navigate the costs of longevity, I'll be teaching on these issues April 5, 2018 for NBI:

Way to go Wally!

It seems it's easier to get a flu, shingles, or pneumonia vaccine in Georgia now.

This seems to be a responsible use of the technology.

Better to have your HIPAA Releases, Durable Financial Power of Attorney, Advanced Healthcare Directive, and other "Ancillary Documents" prepared to avoid having to hire a lawyer to file a "Living Probate!" Too many are prepared to die, but unprepared for the more probable outcome given our level of medical technology: lingering.

Autism diagnoses affect a huge proportion of families. Here's good news about treatment advances.

Wally Nichols will be speaking at NBI's Midtown CLE tomorrow from 1-3:30 pm on EarlyTransfer Planning Tools and Correcting Improper Transfer Mistakes and Working Within the Divestment Penalty Period. We look forward to seeing you at the Hilton!

New blog post: Intimacy & Dementia: Who May Decide Consent? https://wrnicholslawfirm.wordpress.com//intimacy-dementia/

Something to remember during this rainy, rainy weekend!

Are you traveling this holiday weekend or for Spring Break? Don't forget to maintain safety precautions. Always be aware of what's going on around you, and have an idea of laws that may be different where you're vacationing. http://www.ajc.com//panama-city-beach-bans-spring-b/nkkrx/

Did you know that "Erin go Bragh" is a corruption of Éirinn go Brách, which translates to Ireland Forever?

It's Monday again, but you can make it through! Just the first day to start off an amazing week you will have!

At The Law Offices of WR Nichols, elder care is a critical part of our estate planning! Find out more information on how we can help you today! (404) 602-0040

Pass it on... #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismUnderstanding

Click here to find out how important is it to pick an attorney who specializes in estate planning! http://atlantapersonalfamilylawyer.com/

Q: What Happens If There’s No Will? A: It happens all too often. Someone passes away without even a simple will. Which means your wishes may not be carried out. From custody of children to division of property, there are many decisions that you won’t be able to make. Because the government makes the decisions.... If you pass without a will, the estate is split according to how the government decided was the best method years ago. Generally that means it goes to your spouse first, then to your children in equal proportions. Standard rules will be applied to every situation. You can be sure those rules won’t take into account what’s best for your children. The person who ends up with custody of them could be the one person you’d never want your kids to be with. What about taxes? Those rules won’t do anything to minimize taxes on your estate. Let’s not forget unique situations, like co-owning property. If three people own a house and one dies without a will, the other two have equal say. One can force a sale. Or they can fight over it. These situations can drag on for years. It can even affect your funeral. If you don’t have a will that spells out your plans, your loved ones will have to make the arrangements. I’ve seen situations where families couldn’t even buy a tombstone because they couldn’t agree on the one they wanted. You need a will, and an executor who will make these decisions based on your choices. At The Law Offices of WRNicholslaw we recommend that when you are in good health and making clear decisions, come in and discuss your situation with us to see what type of estate plan is appropriate for you. (404)-602-0040 You deserve to be comfortable knowing that when something happens to you, your wishes will be followed.

Happy Sunday! We hope you had a great weekend!

Don’t Forget Elder Care! It amazes me that there are attorneys who only do wills, trusts and estates.and don’t do any part of elder care. Estate planning isn’t just for when you die. A big part of it is planning for the rest of your life, and being prepared for whatever comes along. For example, nursing homes. I’ve heard too many horror stories about people who didn’t have a proper estate plan or waited until it was too late to try to put one together. They went into a nursi...ng home and it cost them everything. But there are ways to plan for this. To get the help you need without losing everything you’ve worked your whole life for. Your assets should be protected. Your spouse shouldn’t have to sell your house just so you can get the care you need. If you choose an attorney who doesn’t do elder care or doesn’t do it well, it can leave your loved ones scrambling and struggling, at a time when all their attention should be focused on you. Imagine paying an attorney to do an estate plan, and having this important part left out. At the law office of WRNicholsLaw, elder care is a critical part of our estate planning. We have extensive knowledge of all the relevant laws, both federal and state, and we’re continuously updating our training to prepare for changes in those laws. Don’t let your needs cost you and your family everything. Call us today to start planning ahead. (404) 602-0040

It's Monday again. Hopefully you have a good start to your week!

Did you know half of all wives are widowed before the age of 60? Are you prepared for the loss of a loved one? Call us today to find out. (404) 602-0040

Looking for some festive snacks in light of St. Patrick's Day? Stay away from the shamrock shake! Choose green superfoods instead. Click here http://ow.ly/uqmae to check out 10 healthy St. Patrick Day picks!

Sometimes a person just needs to be reminded of how valuable they are, a hug, and someone to help them minimize the clutter in their lives.

Overwhelmed planning your estate? We can help, contact us to find out how..

Jimi Hendrix was single when he died without a will - state law gave nothing to Jimi’s brother. Don't Let this happen to you!

Which of these steps are you missing? Call our office and we will fix that for you...(404) 602-0040

Plan for appropriate disposition of your digital assets also!

Weekend words of wisdom.

Are You Worried? As a member of the elder population, you may be worried that you will lose who you are and your ability to maintain independence. We want to ease those fears and make a plan that works for you. By contacting our firm early, you get to call the shots ahead of time and let everyone know your exact wishes. (404) 602-0040

Do you know the best legal strategies to safeguard your assets, plan for your retirement, or protect yourself from the rising costs of long-term care? Qualified elder law attorney Wally Nichols can help you with these difficult issues, and much more! Contact our office today at (404)-602-0040.

Drama...stay warm, stay safe.

Stay safe out there!

Q. If I don't create an estate plan, won't the government provide one for me? A. YES. But your family may not like it. The government's estate plan is called "Intestate Probate" and guarantees government interference in the disposition of your estate. Documents must be filed and approval must be received from a court to pay your bills, pay your spouse an allowance, and account for your property and it all takes place in the public's view. If you fail to plan your estate, you ...lose the opportunity to protect your family from an impersonal, complex governmental process that is a burden at best and can be a nightmare. Then there is the matter of the federal government's death taxes. There is much you can do in planning your estate that will reduce and even eliminate death taxes, but you don't suppose the government's estate plan is designed to save your estate from taxes, do you? While some estate planners favor wills and others prefer a Living Trust as the Estate Plan of Choice, all estate planners agree that dying without an estate plan should be avoided at all costs. Contact our office at 404-602-0040 and let us help you create an estate plan that fits your needs.

Q. What is estate planning? A. When someone passes away, his or her property must somehow pass to another person. In the United States, any competent adult has the right to choose the manner in which his or her assets are distributed after his or her passing. (The main exception to this general rule involves what is called a spousal right of election which disallows the complete disinheritance of a spouse in most states.) A proper estate plan also involves strategies to minim...ize potential estate taxes and settlement costs as well as to coordinate what would happen with your home, your investments, your business, your life insurance, your employee benefits (such as a 401K plan), and other property in the event of death or disability. On the personal side, a good estate plan should include directions to carry out your wishes regarding health care matters, so that if you ever are unable to give the directions yourself, someone you know and trust can do that for you. See more

Q. Why is it important to establish an estate plan? A. Sadly, many individuals don’t engage in formal estate planning because they don’t think that they have a lot of assets or mistakenly believe that their assets will be automatically shared among their children upon their passing. If you don’t make proper legal arrangements for the management of your assets and affairs after your passing, the state’s intestacy laws will take over upon your death or incapacity. This often ...results in the wrong people getting your assets as well as higher estate taxes. If you pass away without establishing an estate plan, your estate would undergo probate, a public, court-supervised proceeding. Probate can be expensive and tie up the assets of the deceased for a prolonged period before beneficiaries can receive them. Even worse, your failure to outline your intentions through proper estate planning can tear apart your family as each person maneuvers to be appointed with the authority to manage your affairs. Further, it is not unusual for bitter family feuds to ensue over modest sums of money or a family heirloom. Contact Wallace Nichols at (404) 602-0040 and establish your estate plan today.

Do you have a loved one who suffers from dementia? Learn how a change in perspective can help you communicate more effectively and with less stress. http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com//alzheimers-world-or-

Estate Planning is as complex and varied as the people it serves. It is multi-dimensional and must be geared in a sensitive manner to the achievement of a variety of objectives: Wealth preservation and asset protection; avoidance of probate; elimination or reduction of estate taxes; prevention against the erosion of retirement savings accounts to unnecessary taxes and management of assets in the event of illness or incapacity, to name but a few. You have worked hard all your ...life to accumulate personal assets and we want to ensure that you pass on your legacy to you family, at the right time and in the manner you desire, rather than have your hard-earned assets be consumed by estate taxes, creditors and probate expenses. A well-crafted estate plan should provide for your loved ones in an effective and efficient manner by avoiding guardianship during your lifetime, probate at death, estate taxes and unnecessary delays. Contact Wally Nichols today to review your family and financial situation, your goals and explain the various options available to you. Once your estate plan is in place, you will have peace of mind knowing that you have provided for yourself and your family in case the worst happens. (404) 602-0040 wrnicholslaw.com

Have questions about bankruptcy, personal injury or estate planning? Call attorney Wally Nichols on Monday. (404) 602-0040

Public Alert: Scam Emails About Phony Court Cases Carry Computer Virus The federal judiciary has learned of an email scam, in which emails purporting to come from federal and state courts are infecting recipients with computer viruses. According to the Security Operations Center of the Administrative Office of the U.S.... Courts, the emails are instructing recipients to report to a hearing on a specified day and time. The emails also instruct recipients to review an attached document for detailed case information. When the attachments or links in the email are opened, a malicious program is launched that infects the recipient’s computer. Several state courts have reported similar schemes, and also are warning the public about potential viruses. Unless you are actively involved in a case in federal court and have consented to receive court notifications electronically, you generally will not be served with court documents electronically. If you receive an email regarding a federal court case or matter of which you are unaware, you should contact the federal court in your jurisdiction before opening any attachments or links. If you have any questions regarding this communication, please contact this court for assistance at 478-752-3506. Thank you. See more

Happy #smallbusinesssaturday#shoplocal#shopsmall

Happy Sinterklaas!