The debate in Texas is continuing over whether or not the state should expand Medicaid per the requirements to get more funding under the new healthcare law, or if it should back off and downsize the whole program. There are differing views on which tactic would...
Elder Law Attorneys Helping You Plan For The Future
Year: 2012
Cancer patient’s court battle shows importance of care planning
The court battle between a terminally ill brain cancer patient and her family has come to a close, as her father has chosen to drop his challenge to her wish to remove life support. The patient allegedly made a request to her doctors and through her court-appointed...
Texas probate judge orders DNA test in Hemsley dispute
A probate judge in Texas has ordered a DNA test as a part of the attempt to try to settle an ongoing dispute over Jeffersons star Sherman Hemsley's estate. The actor passed away from lung cancer this past July but has not been buried yet due to the conflict over his...
Unemployment rate high among veterans
According to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans serving in the military since September 11, 2001 have an unemployment rate of almost 11 percent. The nationwide employment rate is about eight percent. Experts say that a variety of factors are...
Estate planning can help avoid family conflict
Many Texas families hesitate to discuss what will happen to their property, bank accounts, and other assets after they pass away. Unfortunately, without having the conversation and creating a comprehensive estate plan, conflict can easily arise among friends and...
Texas veterans waiting a year or more for benefits
Veterans in Texas are waiting a year or more on average to have benefits claims reviewed, according to a local news report. The long wait times are apparently a result of the fact that Texas has only two VA centers that process claims, and those centers have a fairly...
Domestic partner loses claim to pension
A woman waited too long to file a declaration of domestic partnership for her partner of 38 years and will not be receiving his pension benefits, a state appeals court ruled recently. The couple had been living together since 1969 but hadn't filed for a formal...
Texas counties consider alternative Medicaid expansion
We wrote a few weeks ago about Texas Governor Rick Perry and his announcement that he would be opting out of the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The expansion would require states to cover more residents but would also provide additional federal...
Veterans face long waits, bureaucracy to get benefits
As an increasing number of active duty service members return from abroad, more and more of them are being forced into early retirement by an injury or mental illness. Injuries and mental illness have become more common among Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans than...
Changing tax exemptions create uncertain future for heirs
Estate tax exemptions are a major consideration for Texas residents when planning the way that they want to pass money and other assets to the next generation. Unfortunately, estate taxes are subject to frequent changes and improper planning now can lead to...