Sheri R. Abrams's Blog, page 19
March 28, 2017
Does My Teenager with Special Needs or a Disability Need a Guardianship in Virginia? | Fairfax Guardianship Lawyer
Fairfax guardianship lawyer, Sheri Abrams, reveals how parents should plan ahead to legally protect their child with special needs and/or disabilities as he or she approaches age 18.
As a parent of a disabled child, you understand that your child requires a different level of care than most. Since their level of care is different, the planning you should do for their future should be different as well.
One question I get asked often is whether a child with disabilities will require a guard...
March 21, 2017
Fairfax Social Security Disability Attorney Answers, “What Happened to my Paper Earnings Statement from Social Security?”
Fairfax Social Security Disability Attorney, Sheri Abrams, reveals why most people will no longer receive paper earnings statements from the Social Security Administration.
In January, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that they would greatly reduce the number of paper statements that are mailed out. Paper statements will only be sent to people who are 60 and over who are not getting benefits and do not have an online (My Social Security) account.
This change is estimated...
March 14, 2017
Fairfax Estate Planning Attorney Warns That Estate Planning is Still Critical for Individuals Without Children
Many people mistakenly believe that they do not need estate planning. Young adults and people who believe they have too few assets are at the top of that list. But, there is another group of people that believe that they do not need estate planning: individuals who do not have children. As a Fairfax estate planning attorney, I hear this all the time. After all, if you have no one to leave assets to, why bother? However, it is probably more important for those without children to have an es...
March 8, 2017
OSERS Publishes Transition Guide to Post-secondary Education
As a Virginia Special Needs attorney, I want to share with you this helpful guide. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has published a guide designed to help students and youth with disabilities, as well as their parents, transition from school to post-school activities. Called “A Transition Guide to Post-secondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities,” the guide includes information on post-secondary education, vocational training,...
February 24, 2017
Can Someone With Signs of Dementia Sign Legal Documents in Virginia?
Millions of individuals are affected by memory care issues in their lifetime. Unfortunately, it is usually after a medical diagnosis of dementia that many families begin to think about estate planning. This is a mistake and why it is so critically important to get your estate plan done before a crisis as a person can lose the legal ability to create an estate plan here in Virginia that truly honors their wishes and protects their assets.
This is especially true when dealing with Alzheimer’s a...
February 17, 2017
Can You Receive Social Security Disability Benefits for Mental Disorders in Virginia?
Mental disorders such as PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia can be debilitating for the sufferer. For those who are unable to work because of a severe mental disorder, Social Security Disability benefits may be available.
The Social Security Administration currently recognizes the following 11 categories of mental illnesses that qualify for benefits:
Neurocognitive disorders Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders Depressive, bipolar, and related...February 10, 2017
Fairfax, Virginia, Special Needs Planning Lawyer: Basics of a Third Party Special Needs Trust
For parents with special needs children, ensuring the care of their loved ones once they are gone is of the utmost priority. The loss of SSI and Medicaid is a very real danger if proper special needs planning is not put in place, which is why special needs planning by a Fairfax, Virginia, Special Needs Planning Lawyer, involving Special Needs Trusts, is so important.
What is a Special Needs Trust?
Since even a small amount of cash assets can disqualify special needs individuals from the assi...
February 3, 2017
Fairfax County Estate Planning Attorney Examines Value of Alternate Beneficiaries
I’m a licensed Fairfax County Estate Planning attorney, and I chose this particular area of the law because I’m passionate about helping people in our community preserve their legacies. Far too often, people contact me when they are confronted with very difficult circumstances that could have been avoided through the implementation of the appropriate estate planning techniques.
The do-it-yourself estate planning downloads and worksheets that you can buy online are a major part of the proble...
January 31, 2017
Yes, You’re Covered by Social Security When You Are Outside the U.S.
Social Security has you covered, even outside the United States. Many people who travel or live outside the country receive some kind of Social Security retirement of disability benefit.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments “outside the United States” as long as you are eligible.
“Outside the United States,” means you’re not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or America...
January 27, 2017
9 Reasons to Have an Estate Plan | Fairfax, Virginia, Estate Planning Lawyer
If you are one of those people who claim to not need an estate plan, you are most likely mistaken. Sorry, but it’s true. Take a look at these nine reasons to learn why every adult, regardless of the size of their “estate,” needs a plan.
You may not always have the ability to manage your own affairs. It is an uncomfortable thought, but many times people become unexpectedly incapacitated, and no one knows who should be in charge of your affairs or what they should do next. With an estate plan...
