The Law Office of Raymond A. Harris PLLC http://www.raymondaharris.com Helping those who need it most Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:40:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Attended seminar: “Estate Planning and the Use of Trusts for Same Sex Couples” http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/12/12/attended-seminar-estate-planning-and-the-use-of-trusts-for-same-sex-couples/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/12/12/attended-seminar-estate-planning-and-the-use-of-trusts-for-same-sex-couples/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:40:30 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=738 Today I attended a seminar regarding estate planning and trusts for same-sex couples.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/12/12/attended-seminar-estate-planning-and-the-use-of-trusts-for-same-sex-couples/feed/ 0 Now on Google+ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/11/07/now-on-google/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/11/07/now-on-google/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:40:11 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=731 The Law Office of Raymond A. Harris, PLLC is now on Google+, add us to your circles!

https://plus.google.com/101477790459082214642

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/11/07/now-on-google/feed/ 0 Attended seminar: “Nuts and Bolts of Special Needs Trusts” http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/10/06/attended-seminar-nuts-and-bolts-of-special-needs-trusts/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/10/06/attended-seminar-nuts-and-bolts-of-special-needs-trusts/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:07:31 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=728 Today I attended a seminar regarding special needs trusts for individuals with disabilities.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/10/06/attended-seminar-nuts-and-bolts-of-special-needs-trusts/feed/ 0 HELP! I AM GOING “BEHIND BARS” FOR A GOOD CAUSE! http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/10/04/help-i-am-going-%e2%80%9cbehind-bars%e2%80%9d-for-a-good-cause/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/10/04/help-i-am-going-%e2%80%9cbehind-bars%e2%80%9d-for-a-good-cause/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:11:36 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=720 I’m proud to tell you that I’m being locked up to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  I am being arrested on October 25, 2011 and taken to jail at Outback Steakhouse in Okemos, MI where I will serve hard time at the Lock Up event!

To be released on good behavior I have to raise bail and I cannot do it without you! My goal is to raise $2400, which sponsors 3 local kids to attend MDA Summer Camp at Camp Cavell and one clinic visit.  Your donation will help me achieve my goal and benefit local families living with a neuromuscular disease.

Keep it simple…make your tax-deductible donation online by inserting the link below into your browser. If you don’t want to donate online – I accept “bail mail” or even better you can bail me out in person! Please let me know if you have any questions!

On behalf of the families MDA serves, thank you!

Warmest Regards,

Raymond A. Harris

The Law Office of Raymond A. Harris, PLLC

 
https://www.joinmda.org/2011eastlansinglockup/raymond

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/10/04/help-i-am-going-%e2%80%9cbehind-bars%e2%80%9d-for-a-good-cause/feed/ 0 Attended seminar: Special Needs Trusts http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/09/12/attended-seminar-special-needs-trusts/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/09/12/attended-seminar-special-needs-trusts/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:10:30 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=718 Today I attended a seminar regarding trusts, specifically, using special needs trust for an individual with a disability.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/09/12/attended-seminar-special-needs-trusts/feed/ 0 Headaches for same-sex couples http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/07/11/headaches-for-same-sex-couples/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/07/11/headaches-for-same-sex-couples/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:38:04 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=713 Same sex marriage is becoming more accepted nationwide. But that doesn’t mean that these couples can have a ceremony and go about their lives happily ever after.

“Such couples still can’t file a joint federal tax return, share retirement benefits, shield each others assets from estate taxes or benefit from many other tax breaks provided through federal law.

As a result, same-sex couples who marry have to stay on guard, doing even more financial and legal planning, in some cases, than those who don’t choose to tie the knot.”

It’s always important for couples to have the necessary legal documents in place to protect each other and their children.  But it’s even more important for same sex couples because so many benefits that most married folks automatically enjoy don’t apply.

Read the full article here.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/07/11/headaches-for-same-sex-couples/feed/ 0 NAELA Membership http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/20/naela-membership/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/20/naela-membership/#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 19:38:35 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=638 I just joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.  Their website is here.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/20/naela-membership/feed/ 0 Arcane legal theory used in Michigan inheritance issue http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/13/636/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/13/636/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 13:20:02 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/13/636/ The Rule Against Perpetuities is every law student’s nightmare. Dating back hundreds of years, the Rule is meant to prevent an estate proceeding from dragging on endlessly, requiring a property interest conveyed in a will to vest, if at all, within 21 years of the death of individuals already in existence at the time of the person’s death.

The Rule was in full effect recently in Michigan, however, in the estate of a millionaire lumber baron who passed away in 1919. Yep, nearly one hundred years later, the estate is finally being settled. Read about it here.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/05/13/636/feed/ 0 Elderlaw & Disability Conference http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/03/06/elderlaw-disability-conference-2/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/03/06/elderlaw-disability-conference-2/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:54:52 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=629 On friday march 4 I attended the ninth annual elder law & disability conference. Lots of good info on medicaid, healthcare, and other important topics.

]]> http://www.raymondaharris.com/2011/03/06/elderlaw-disability-conference-2/feed/ 0 Article illustrates the danger of joint ownership: son’s creditors took his mother’s life savings http://www.raymondaharris.com/2010/11/08/article-illustrates-the-danger-of-joint-ownership-sons-creditors-took-his-mothers-life-savings/ http://www.raymondaharris.com/2010/11/08/article-illustrates-the-danger-of-joint-ownership-sons-creditors-took-his-mothers-life-savings/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:09:33 +0000 raymond http://www.raymondaharris.com/?p=627 Many, many people use joint ownership as a cheap, do-it-yourself method to avoid probate or hiring an attorney to draft an estate plan. Unfortunately, it often has consequences that may not be apparent until it’s too late. For example, joint ownership can expose both parties to claims from one of the owner’s creditors, which is what happened in this article.

The article illustrates a fairly dramatic example, but there are more traps for the unwary: capital gains and gift tax liabilities, uncapping of property taxes, and potential Medicaid penalties for elderly folks who may need nursing home care.

Before you consider joint ownership, please consult an attorney.  The money you spend to have a professional analyze your situation can potentially save you thousands of dollars down the road.

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