Law Office of Patricia E. Tichenor, P.L.L.C.

https://www.kxan.com/business/press-releases/cision/20240701DC51610/elder-fraud-prevention-advocate-janine-williamson-issues-statement-as-hb-692-larrys-law-takes-effect-in-virginia/

Elder Fraud Prevention Advocate Janine Williamson Issues Statement as HB 692 "Larry's Law" Takes Effect in Virginia RICHMOND, Va., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- House Bill 692, or "Larry's Law," took effect today in Virginia. Larry's Law lays the groundwork for financial institutions to train their employees to identify potential financial exploitation of senior citizens, report it to the authorities, and notify a...

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/05/16/social-security-finalizes-rule-expanding-access-to-ssi/30884/

Social Security Finalizes Rule Expanding Access To SSI Under a new rule, more people will soon qualify for Supplemental Security Income and some current beneficiaries will see their monthly payments increase, the Social Security Administration said.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/04/ftc-announces-rule-banning-noncompetes

FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompetes Today, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule to promote competition by banning noncompetes nationwide, protecting the fundamen

https://www.startribune.com/disablility-community-fears-medical-aid-in-dying-legislation-calls-canada-cautionary-tale/600358074/

Assisted su***de in Minnesota? Critics point to Canada as cautionary tale. Proposed medical aid in dying legislation promises to be an ongoing issue in Minnesota, where some in the disability community fear being devalued or coerced.

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/04/09/social-security-finalizes-change-to-ssi-benefits/30818/

Social Security Finalizes Change To SSI Benefits The Social Security Administration is moving forward with a major change to the way it calculates monthly Supplemental Security Income benefits for those with disabilities.

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/04/08/lawmakers-push-for-cost-of-living-boost-in-veterans-benefits-next-year/

Lawmakers push for cost-of-living boost in veterans benefits next year Legislation introduced in the Senate would guarantee a cost-of-living boost in veterans benefits in 2025.

It’s time to get ready to file your first annual report if you own a business.

https://www.fincen.gov/boi

Born before 1950 or after? Here’s a great article on why it matters when it comes to the required minimum distributions (RMDs) and your retirement accounts.

New rules mean required withdrawals from retirement accounts have become even more complex — MarketWatch Multiple changes to a complicated system have inevitably led to more confusion and uncertainty

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/10/03/fewer-older-americans-are-writing-wills-planning-estates/70994383007/

Where's the inheritance? Why fewer older Americans are writing wills or estate planning Researchers say older Americans are less likely than 10 or 20 years ago to write wills or trusts, potentially derailing the estate planning process

https://apple.news/AkgP0Js9QQni0ZUrd4CJFtA

Here’s What a $5 Million Retirement Looks Like in America — The Wall Street Journal Retirees open up about their financial lives and how they spend their time and money

You will be missed. Rest in peace. 🙏😞

Sinéad O’Connor, Irish singer of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U,’ dies at 56 — The Washington Post The musician said she was “proud to be a troublemaker,” and made headlines for protesting sexual abuse during a performance on “Saturday Night Live.”

A fun read:

Meet Lawsuit Barbie: She's been busy at Barbie's courthouse Tom Forsythe, a Utah photographer, created dozens of images depicting n**e Barbie dolls posed with kitchen appliances. His “Food Chain Barbie” series included “Malted Barbie,” showing Barbie placed on a vintage Hamilton Beach malt machine. Another, which Forsythe titled “Barbie Enchiladas,...

https://apple.news/ADhBnV1xQRAuI71zTEqTPKQ

New York State Built Elon Musk a $1 Billion Factory. ‘It Was a Bad Deal.’ — The Wall Street Journal New Tesla facility in Buffalo was supposed to house a huge solar-panel operation, but the project hasn’t turned out as planned.

As parents age, children need to have tough conversations with them to keep their care and assets in the right hands. Our latest blog offers a helpful guide for adults with parents who may be getting older, or are in declining physical or mental health, and need assistance preparing their estate plans.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/how-to-help-your-aging-parents-make-their-estate-plans/

While your last Will can ensure your descendants receive personal effects and assets on your passing and assign a guardian for minor children, there are limits to what it can achieve.

Here are a few things a Will cannot be used for, as well as items you can't legally add to your Will if you want it to be considered valid after your death.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/what-a-virginia-will-cannot-do/

Undue influence in estate planning occurs when a person’s Will, trust, or other estate planning documents are manipulated by an outside party. In many cases, the influencer or manipulator aims to take advantage of the testator (the person creating the estate plan) by exploiting their weakened mental or physical state and encouraging that person to change their Will, trust, and other estate planning documents for the influencer’s benefit.



Here’s how to recognize potential undue influence over yourself or a loved one based on Virginia’s new legal standards and what you can do to counteract it.
https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/how-to-identify-undue-influence/

The new year is the perfect time to review and update your estate plan. Here are seven estate planning resolutions to make for 2023.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-resolutions/

Preparing your future estate executor to do their sometimes-challenging job with confidence and ease can be just as important as drafting a clear and valid Will. Here are five steps you can take now to make your executor’s job easier when the time comes.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-executor-preparation/

It’s critical to review and update your estate plans after big life milestones like changes to your marital status, family members, or assets. Otherwise, your most up-to-date wishes may not be carried out if you pass away unexpectedly.

Here are six major life events that warrant an update to your Will and other estate planning documents.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/life-events-update-your-estate-plan/

It’s never too early to start creating an estate plan.

Estate planning allows you to dictate what happens to your assets in the event of your death or incapacity. Planning ahead will ensure a smooth probate process for your loved ones and beneficiaries, or help them avoid probate altogether.

To get started with your estate plan, follow these five steps. https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-checklist/

Though it can be difficult to discuss estate planning with your aging parents, it’s an essential conversation to ensure their wishes are honored after their passing or if they become incapacitated during their lifetime.

Here are five ways to approach estate planning with your elderly parents and encourage them to get their affairs in order, regardless of their current circumstances or health.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/discuss-estate-planning-with-aging-parents/

Lifetime gifting can help you reduce the size of your taxable estate at death. Here's how you can use this strategy as an estate planning tool.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/lifetime-gifting-estate-planning-tool/

Many people choose family members, such as a spouse or adult child, as their executors when making their estate plans, but relatives are not the only option.

If you don't have or want a family member to handle your estate, here are some alternative third-party options to explore, like a trusted friend, attorney, CPA, or a financial institution.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/third-party-estate-executor-options/

Thinking about DIYing your estate plan? You may want to think again.

While plenty of tools exist to create generic estate planning documents, only an experienced attorney can help you ensure your wishes are properly documented and accounted for in a way that best suits your circumstances.

Read on to learn why a do-it-yourself approach to estate planning can do more harm than good.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/reasons-not-to-diy-estate-plans/

Your pets are a part of your family. Just like with human family members, you can protect your pets’ future well-being by including them in your estate plans.

Specifically, you can create a pet trust to earmark funding and provide specific care instructions for your beloved fur babies in the event of your incapacitation or death. In our latest blog, we explore what a pet trust is and why it’s such an important estate planning tool for pet owners.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/what-is-a-pet-trust/

Many people don't start thinking about estate planning until later in life. However, it's never too early for an adult to start thinking about their plans.

Here are some expert estate planning tips for every age, from your 20s through your 60s and beyond.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-tips-for-every-age/

With the passage of the Uniform Electronic Wills Act in 2021, a testator can now execute a Will electronically in Virginia. Here’s what you need to know about the requirements for a valid electronic Will and why they’ve become so popular in recent years.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/electronic-wills-in-virginia/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/health/oximeters-covid-black-patients.html?smid=url-share

Pulse Oximeter Devices Have Higher Error Rate in Black Patients (Published 2020) A study showed that the devices, which measure oxygen levels in the blood, were three times more likely to give misleading readings among African-American patients.