2016 Newsletters

December 2016

The 65-Day Rule: What Every Trustee Should Know about Taxes – December 30, 2017
ABLE Accounts Open in Virginia – December 27, 2016
Special Needs Trust Fairness Act Passes Congress – December 20, 2016
Problematic Proposed Regulations May Harm Family Businesses If Left Unaddressed – December 9, 2016
Decanting an Irrevocable Trust to Protect Public Benefit Eligibility – December 2, 2016

November 2016

‘Tis the Season…for hospital admissions and long-term are planning! – November 28, 2016
Life-Saving Tech Tip for Cell Phone Users – November 18, 2016
What President-Elect Trump and the Republican Party have in Store for You: Estate, Gift and Generation Skipping Transfer Taxes – November 14, 2016
State Tax Credit Can Help With Home Improvement Costs – November 8, 2016

October 2016

Establishing Retroactive Survivor Benefit Plan Payments (SBP) for a Dependent Child – October 31, 2016
Using Person-First Language to Communicate With and About People with Special Needs – October 24th, 2016
Musings on Financial Aid – October 14th, 2016
Cruising through Caregiving – Book Review – October 11th, 2016
Planning for Small Business Owners Is Critically Important – October 4th, 2016

September 2016

New Changes Coming for Family-Owned Businesses – September 9, 2016
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft & Credit Card Fraud – September 2, 2016

August 2016

Home Upgrades to Help Aging in Place – August 26, 2016
Department of Defense Rolls Out a New Retirement Plan – August 19, 2016
The Effect of Divorce on Your Estate Plan – August 12, 2016
Asset Protection in Virginia: What can I do that won’t break the bank? – August 5, 2016

July 2016

Recent Court Ruling Creates Difficulty Obtaining Documents from Nursing Facilities – July 29, 2016
Understanding a Resident’s Transfer and Discharge Rights under the Nursing Home Reform Act – July 22, 2016
Little-Known Burial Benefits for Veterans – July 15, 2016
Beware Scams Targeting Seniors and the Unwary – July 8, 2016
Early Onset Alzheimer’s-Type Dementia – July 1, 2016

June 2016

DeCambre v. Brookline Housing Authority – June 24, 2016
Finding the Right Assisted Living Facility – June 17, 2016
Musing on a Road Trip – June 10, 2016
High Profile Estate Disputes – June 3, 2016

May 2016

Medicare Advantage Plans – May 27, 2016
Life Insurance Considerations for Your Estate Plan – May 20, 2016
Recent Developments In The Law – May 13, 2016
Lessons Everyone Can Learn From Prince’s Estate – May 6, 2016

April 2016

Preserving Family History – April 29, 2016
Freedom of Sexual Expression for Elderly and Disabled Adults – April 22, 2016
Transferring Real Estate into an LLC: Use Caution When a Mortgage is Involved – April 15, 2016
CLIENT UPDATE: New Changes In Virginia Spousal Inheritance Rights – April 8, 2016
The Cost of Procrastination – April 1, 2016

March 2016

Changes to Medicaid Waiver Program – March 25, 2016
Communicating with a Loved One with Alzheimer’s – March 18, 2016
The Missing Element of Your Estate Plan – March 11, 2016
Aging In Place (It’s the little things…) – March 4, 2016

February 2016

Spotlight on Income Taxes: Medical Deduction for Assisted Living? – February 26, 2016
Household Model of Care – February 19, 2016
Agents Beware: Failure to Disclose Your Principal Leads to Personal Liability – February 12, 2016
Spotlight on: EQUI-VETS and EQUI-KIDS – February 5, 2016

January 2016

New Emergency Contact Listing Provided by Virginia – January 29, 2016
My Aunt Named Me the Executor of her Will – Now What? – January 22, 2016
Department of Defense Releases Regulation Pertaining to Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Annuity to Special Needs Trusts – January 15, 2016
Who to Select as Fiduciary? – January 8, 2016
Medicare Open Enrollment – January 1, 2016

Memberships & Affiliations

Special Needs Alliance

SNA is a by-invitation-only national network of attorneys serving those with special needs and disabilities and their families, the “best and brightest” in the trust and estate practice. As members, Hook Law Center lawyers work with personal injury lawyers to enhance judgments, awards and outcomes for their clients with disabilities.

ACTEC – The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

ACTEC is a national organization of peer-elected trust and estate lawyers and law professors who have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in wills and trust, estate planning and tax law. Their goals are serving clients, helping the profession, and informing the public to improve and reform probate, trust and tax laws and professional responsibility. Hook Law Center President Andrew H. “Andy” Hook and attorney Letha Sgritta McDowell are both ACTEC Fellows.

NAELA – National Academy of Elder Attorneys, Inc.

NAELA improves the quality of legal services for people as they age and those with disabilities. Members have broad experience with legal issues affecting these individuals and are committed to continuing education to hone their skills. They also lead and advocate on public policy issues facing members’ clients and their families. Hook Law Center attorney Letha Sgritta McDowell is the 2021/2022 NAELA President; she and Hook Law Center President Andrew H. “Andy” Hook have both served NAELA in various other capacities and chaired multiple committees for NAELA in the past.

Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers by region through independent research and peer nomination and evaluation. Hook Law Center lawyers who have received this accolade include Andrew H. “Andy” Hook, President of Hook Law Center; Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, practicing in elder law, special needs planning, estate and trust administration and more; and Letha Sgritta McDowell, practicing in estate planning, elder law, special needs planning and more.