A regular column discussing elder fraud, elder law and estate planning. By Leonard Baer, Esq., an elder law and estate attorney specializing in elder fraud prevention and abuse.
Remember when our parents, in their frustration said, “Talking to you is like talking to a wall!?” Most of us laughed and thought nothing much of it. My, how the tables have turned! Now, we are also parents. And, like many of my clients, we want to speak about end-of-life planning, wills, powers of attorney and other such pertinent …
What’s In Your Wallet?
A few days ago, I was in a store watching someone pay for her items at checkout. When the cashier asked her for her credit card, she produced a wallet that was bulging with papers, bills, receipts and what could have been the remainder of an old peanut butter cracker! She found the credit card - after laying everything out on the counter. I saw …
The Mirror Has Two Faces: Which One Will You See Today?
For those of who read my blogs, it is obvious that I am a movie fan. I love movies and have been going to movies for so long. I can remember Saturday afternoons when my best friend and I would go to the Troy Theatre and pay $.75 to get in, see two movies, and eat ourselves numb on NECCO wafers, Bit-O-Honey and Root Beer Barrels. There will be …
The IRS Scam: A Scam for All Seasons
The holidays are over, the presents are put away, and we are looking forward to Groundhog Day, Valentines Day, and of course, the tax season! My personal preference is Valentine’s Day. But, as you know, the IRS doesn’t give you much choice. Mark Twain once said ... “What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The …
The Only New Years Resolution You Need
These are the lines from one of my favorite movies, City Slickers, where a middle-aged man goes to a dude ranch to participate in cattle drive and find meaning in life. Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is? [holds up index finger] Curly: This. Mitch: Your finger? Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that, and the rest don't …
A Holiday Faux Pas With Older Parents
Another holiday faux pas—using family time to tell an aging parent that maybe they ought to give up their car keys. Want a real downer? Start talking to a senior about driving and maybe even getting rid of their car. Here’s a stocking stuffer ... just hide their keys and say later that fate intervened, and this is a sign that their driving …