Publications

Looking for advice regarding a legal matter? OWM Law attorneys have authored numerous articles that may help you get a handle on complex issues. Some of these articles deal with everyday matters such as consumer fraud and credit card debt, while others detail more complicated legal issues such as gift taxes and elder law. Make this the starting point for researching your issues, then pick up the phone or use the handy “Contact Us” form at left to start a conversation with us. OWM Law can help.

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OWM Firm News And Information

Please visit our blog to read about the latest firm news as well as articles regarding estate planning, business planning, elder law, real estate, and other timely subjects.

Assistance For Seniors, Medicaid, Long Term Care Insurance

• Wait Times for Social Security Disability Average 18 Months (3/3/2019)
• Number of Older Workers Can Force Employers Into Frank Talks (2/17/2019)
• Social Security Beneficiaries to Get a Raise in 2019 (12/2/2018)
• Community Health Choices is Coming; Deadline to Enroll Fast Approaching (11/4/2018)
• VA Enacts New Rules for Aid, Attendance Benefits (10/21/2018)
• Senior Safe Act: Why Seniors Need More Protection (6/17/2018)
• Report From the Social Security Advisory Board (2/4/2018)
• Should We Re-marry or Just Live Together? (1/21/2018)
• Social Security Updates for 2018 (11/5/2017)
• No to Home Health Care for Seniors (7/16/2017)
• Long Odds with Long Waits for Social Security Disability Approval (7/2/2017)
• Boomers Should Look for Complete Information on Social Security (5/21/2017)
• Continued Need to Advocate to Protect Healthcare and Medicaid (3/5/2017)
• Can You Still Vote if You Live in a Long Term Care Facility? (10/2/2016)
• Truths and Myths About the Medicaid Look Back Period (4/17/2016)
• Confusion Abounds About the New Social Security Laws (3/6/2016)
• Common Misconceptions About Medicaid (2/7/2016)
• Re-thinking Your Social Security Strategy May Be in Order (11/15/2015)
• Payments to a Caregiver and Medicaid Penalty Period (5/3/2015)
• Social Security Pursuing Old Debt With Family Members (4/19/2015)
• Use of Guardianships as Collection Method for Nursing Homes (3/1/2015)
• VA Proposes Regulations to Change Standards for Some Benefits (2/15/2015)
• High Court in Florida Bans Non-Lawyers From Certain Medicaid Planning Activities (2/1/2015)
• Transfer of Money Could be Improper if No Personal Care Agreement (1/18/2015)
• Benefits of Shopping and Walking for Older Adults (12/21/2014)
• Generous Seniors Hurting Their Chances for Medicaid (10/19/2014)
• Congress Needs to Address Issues with Alzheimer’s Accountability Act (5/18/2014)
• Social Security Statement to be Partially Restored (5/4/2014)
• Act 12 Makes Changes to PACE/PACENET Eligibility (3/2/2014)
• How Telemedicine Can Keep Elderly Out of Nursing Homes (2/2/2014)

Automobiles, Seniors and Insurance

• Persuading an Elderly Relative to Stop Driving (12/7/2014)
• Seniors and When to Stop Driving (6/1/2014)

Caregiver Issues

• Elderly Will Lose Caregivers Due to Trump’s Immigration Policies (7/1/2018)
• Emotions Among Caregivers, Care Recipients Studied by AARP (12/3/2017)
• Coping With Elderly Parent’s Worsening Behavior (11/19/2017)
• Aging Adults Are Now Boomerang Seniors (4/16/2017)
• The Promise to “Never Put Me in a Nursing Home” (12/6/2015)
• Financial Skills Deteriorate Early in Cognitive Impairment (6/7/2015)

Housing Issues

• Ways to Co-Own Property Are Important to Understand (8/2/2015)

Investments, Annuities, Joint Accounts

• Annuity Sales and Fraud Claims Climb Dramatically (1/20/2019)
• Retirement Savings Rule To Go Into Effect in June (6/18/2017)
• Some Pitfalls to Avoid When Taking Required Distributions From Retirement (8/7/2016)
• Aging Investors and Conflicts for Advisors (4/5/2015)
• Tax Free Savings Accounts Soon to be Available for Some With Disabilities (1/4/2015)

Medicare Issues

• Another Consideration When Choosing Medicare Advantage Plans: Denials (11/18/2018)
• Shopping Around for a Medigap Policy (10/7/2018)
• Medicare Expands on Deadline to Offer to Reserve Penalties for Late Enrollment (7/15/2018)
• Impact of Medicare Observation Status is Far Reaching (5/5/2018)
• New Medicare Cards are Breeding Ground for Scammers (4/1/2018)
• Some of What You Might Want or Need to Know About Medicare (3/18/2018)
• Trouble Getting Medicare Coverage at Home if Condition is Chronic (2/18/2018)
• Medicare Open Enrollment and Updates (10/1/2017)
• Class Certified in Medicare Observation Status Lawsuit (9/3/2017)
• Medicare Improvement Standard in Rehabs Still Alive and Well (8/20/2017)
• Care Needed on Timing for Enrolling in Medicare Part B (8/6/2017)
• “MOON” is Here, So What Do You Need to Know? (3/19/2017)
• Corrective Action Ordered for Non-Compliance with Eliminating Improvement Standard (2/19/2017)
• What is Observation Status and What Does it Mean to You (1/1/2017)
• The “New” Aging Waiver Program in Pennsylvania (12/4/2016)
• Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Health Plan (11/20/2016)
• Medicare Changes: What is New? (11/6/2016)
• Report on Facts About Medicare Part D (10/16/2016)
• Some New Medicare Enrollees Are Not Choosing Their Own Plans (9/4/2016)
• Medicare Observation Status to Come With Notice Soon (7/17/2016)
• Need For Improvement Continues to be the Medicare Standard (4/3/2016)
• Medicare Beneficiaries Saved on Medical Costs Since 2010 (2/21/2016)
• Medicare 2016 Premiums and Deductibles Announced (1/3/2016)
• Is it Possible to go Home for the Holidays When a Resident in a Nursing Home? (12/20/2015)
• Medicare Open Enrollment Time is Now (10/18/2015)
• Medicare Part B Premiums Unchanged for Most Beneficiaries (9/6/2015)
• Eligible for Medicare But Have Obama Care Plan (8/17/2015)
• Plan to Eliminate Social Security Numbers From Medicare Cards (5/17/2015)
• Observation Status and Improvement Standards Re-visited (3/15/2015)
• Potential for Savings in Yearly Analysis of Medicare Drug Plans (11/2/2014)
• Death of Medicare Improvement Standard Now Official (1/5/2014)

Scams, Identity Theft

• Phone Scams are Similar (9/2/2018)
• Beware of Companies Offering to Obtain Your Property Deed for a Fee (12/17/2017)
• Protecting Deceased Loved Ones From Identity Theft (10/4/2015)
• Scams Run Rampant; Seniors Particularly Vulnerable (10/5/2014)

Estate Planning

• New Tax Laws Are a Reason to Review Your Estate Plan (3/17/2019)
• Estate Planning for Yourself, Others (9/23/2018)
• Changes In the Tax Laws and How it Can Affect Wills for Spouses (6/3/2018)
• Think Carefully About Retirement Account Beneficiaries (5/20/2018)
• Five Practical Uses for an ABLE Account (10/15/2017)
• 21st Century Cures Act Has Passed (12/18/2016)
• Invest in Estate Planning – It’s More Than Writing a Will (11/1/2015)
• Digital Assets and Estate Planning (6/21/2015)
• Fights Among Heirs in an Estate: Is it About Money? (3/16/2014)
• Do Not Miss an Opportunity to Save on Estate Tax (1/19/2014)

Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Gift Tax

• Will Issues You Should Discuss With Your Attorney (4/7/2019)
• What is the Appropriate Use for a POLST Form? (8/5/2018)
• What is a Revocable or Living Trust and Do I Need One? (4/15/2018)
• How Much Can I Give Away Without Paying a Gift Tax? (1/7/2018)
• So You Are the Agent Under a Power of Attorney (8/22/2016)
• Why the Bypass Trust in your Will May Be Unnecessary (6/26/2016)
• Is It Worth Completing Power of Attorney Documents? (6/5/2016)
• Issues To Consider When Creating a Special Needs Trust (5/1/2016)
• Distributing Estate’s Personal Property in a Fair Way (9/20/2015)
• Responsibilities of an Agent Under a Power of Attorney (7/5/2015)
• Thinking About Planning Ahead (9/7/2014)
• New Law Changing Rules on Powers of Attorney (7/20/2014)
• Living Wills and DNR Orders: Which is Which? (6/15/2014)
• April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day (4/6/2014)
• Groups Seek Support for Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (2/16/2014)

Miscellaneous

• What Happens to Your Pets When You Cannot Care For Them? (2/3/2019)
• Plan to Restrict Immigration on Public Charge Grounds (12/16/2018)
• Should You Give Your Social Security Number to Your Doctor? (3/4/2018)
• “Why Won’t My Family Take My Stuff?” Lament Downsizing Adults (9/17/2017)
• Pennsylvania Launched the PA ABLE Savings Program (6/4/2017)
• How Do Heirs Deal With Debt After a Loved One’s Death? (5/7/2017)
• Some Tax Time Things for Seniors to Remember (4/2/2017)
• How Could the ACA Repeal Affect Pennsylvania? (2/5/2017)
• Be Aware of Pitfalls of Co-Signing Grandchildren’s Student Loans (1/15/2017)
• May is Older Americans Month (5/15/2016)
• Trend of Senior Centers to Try Re-Branding (3/20/2016)
• Debts in an Estate: How Do They Get Paid (7/19/2015)
• Ranks of Unemployable Vets Swelled by Seniors (9/21/2014)
• Seniors Have Another Worry: Surprise Ambulance Bills (8/17/2014)
• Report on Trends in Aging Population as Baby Boomers Grow Older (8/3/2014)
• Now Boomers are Moving Back With Parents (7/6/2014)