Page 31 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - August 2019 - 26-08
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Ask The
Senior Times - August 2019
Page 31
THE ELDER LAW CENTER
Helping Seniors Preserve Their Lives
Asset Protection Planning for Persons in a Nursing Home or Entering a Nursing Home Powers of Attorney • Wills • Trusts • Probate
Don't Lose Everything You Have To the Nursing Home
I can help you save up to 100% of your assets.
Michael B. Walling, J.D., LL.M.
Let me help you properly draft and fund a trust before you or your spouse enter a nursing home; it could save you over $50,000!
MICHAEL B. WALLING
Elder Law Attorney
Author of "Ask the Attorney"
Call for a free
initial consultation*.
*Except Asset Protection Planning
(269) 324-7344
Offices in Portage & Battle Creek
www.wallingplc.com
Helping Seniors preserve their lives for more than a decade.
By: Nancy A. Snyder, Right at Home
The Calhoun County Caregiver Retreat is an annual event held in Battle Creek each fall. The Caregiver Retreat came about in response to a need being identified that the area’s unpaid family caregivers could benefit from a day of relaxation and respite. It can be very stressful to be a caregiver, and it is important family caregivers take the time to take care of themselves.
caregiving role. The projects usually involve making something that show- cases words of support and affirmation.
ATTORNEY
Michael Walling, Special to Senior Times
TRUSTS FOR SECOND MARRIAGE
QUESTION: My wife and I had
a trust done for us years ago. She
has since passed away and I am
now remarried. This is the second marriage for my new wife and I. We both have children from our previous marriages. I want to add her to my trust, is that a good idea?
ANSWER: Yes and no. Second marriages are trickier when it comes to estate planning.
In a normal revocable trust for a husband and wife (first marriage) when one spouse dies the trust just continues on. The surviving spouse can still make changes to the trust such as who the trustee is, where the assets go upon death, etc.
This is fine in a first marriage with children. However when it is a second marriage, that is a different story. For instance, let’s say that you and your new wife want everything to be split among all of your children and her children evenly. Then you pass away and your wife remarries. Your wife decides that she wants everything to go to her children and her new husband’s children. Because she has the authority to change the trust, she can make that change. Now your children are cut
A Special Day
out completely. Your children will not receive anything from your estate.
What you want is a new trust (or restate your old one) with protections built in so that the surviving spouse cannot make changes to certain parts
of the trust. Maybe you want 50% to go to your children immediately when you die; or maybe you want 50% to be held in trust for your grandchildren; or maybe you want to make sure that your son is the trustee of your grandchil- dren’s trust. With proper estate plan- ning, you can control what happens to your assets when you die.
I would suggest you and your new spouse contact an experienced estate planning attorney to talk about possible scenarios. I am sure she wants to pro- tect some of her assets for her children as well.
Michael B. Walling is an Elder
Law attorney with an advance Master of Laws degree. He manages the
Elder Law Center and the law firm of Michael B. Walling, PLC. Mr. Walling is also a part-time Professor at Western Michigan University. Please send any questions you would like addressed to: The Elder Law Center, 4625 Beckley Road, Building 400, Suite 4003, Battle Creek, Michigan 49015. You may also call (269) 968-1101 to set up a free ini- tial consultation. This column is intend- ed for general information purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice to any particular person.
For Caregivers
CALHOUN COUNTY
OCTOBER 23, 2019 • 9AM - 2PM First Congregational Church
145 NE Capital Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017
The day is free to caregivers. Registration is required. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Ask about respite availability.
CAREGIVER
An unpaid individual who regularly assists a loved one with personal care, household chores or health issues.
EVENTS OF THE DAY
Featured speakers | Massages Manicures | Retail therapy | Vendor fair
CONTACT
Sally Goss 269-979-1479 x306
COME RELAX, ENJOY A DAY AWAY & FEEL REFRESHED
Caregiver stress and burnout can become serious issues for both the care- giver and the care receiver so all care- givers, both paid and unpaid, need to remember the importance of taking care of themselves. The Caregiver Retreat was created for you.
One of the best things about the Caregiver Retreat includes the social connections that the caregivers make during the event. Most of the attendees don’t know each other, but they share the common bond of being a caregiver. It’s wonderful to see people sitting and talking with each other sharing the joys and burdens of caregiving. The support and comradery is invaluable to the fam- ily caregivers that attend the event.
That’s why a group of area pro- fessionals in aging and senior needs came up with the idea of a special day for unpaid family caregivers where
they can relax, unwind, and participate in some activities that they may not otherwise have access to on a regular basis. The Caregiver retreat features speakers that are both motivational and informative. Many caregivers just need to hear that they are doing something worthwhile. They need to hear that their work is valuable and makes a differ- ence in their loved one’s life. There are also speakers presenting on Yoga and relaxation techniques to help caregivers manage their stress. People that attend the Caregiver Retreat can enjoy partic- ipating in different craft projects that help reinforce the importance of their
This year’s Caregiver Retreat will be held on Wednesday October 23. The First Congregational Church in down- town Battle Creek is the site for this year’s event. The day begins at 9am and runs until 2pm. There are sessions with speakers on a variety of topics, craft projects, chair massages, and manicures. Vendors from organizations that work with seniors and people with disabilities are available. There are also vendors selling jewelry, essential oils, and other products. A light breakfast and hot lunch are served. Respite care for the care receiver is available.
The Calhoun County Caregiver Retreat Committee hopes that all unpaid family caregivers will attend this year’s event and take advantage of the wonderful activities the event has to offer. There is no cost to attend this event. Call (269) 979-1479 ext. 306 to register or for more details.


































































































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