Articles
Whitewater Kayaking Southwestern North Carolina’s Exciting Cheoah River With My Vaccinated Friends – Video and Photos
The safety-conscious whitewater paddling community has done a great job encouraging each other to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Being vaccinated both increases our own safety when "shuttling" in vehicles carrying paddlers and gear to river "put in" and "take out"...
Medicaid Planning in North Carolina: Is it Ethical?
On a bright North Carolina Saturday, Molly sits on her front porch while the goldfinches take turns pecking out thistle seeds from the feeder. But she is not watching her favorite birds at breakfast like usual, as Molly sits deep in thought, worrying. Her mother's...
Enhancing a Special Needs Trust with an ABLE Account in North Carolina
Special Needs Trusts A special needs trust (SNT) allows families to save significant assets for a special needs, disabled, or elderly person who receives Medicaid, Social Security Income (SSI), or other "means tested" (has strict beneficiary asset or income limits)...
North Carolina Trust Administration Checklist
Background In North Carolina, when a state resident passes away leaving behind assets, the estate administration process may begin. A person interested in properly winding up the deceased resident's estate may apply with the Clerk of Superior Court serving the...
Kayaking West Virginia’s Big Water Upper Gauley River (story with video/audio)
Now almost 58 years old, I had last kayaked West Virginia's Upper Gauley river (American Whitewater Class IV-5.0 difficulty rating) in my early 40s. Prior to this year, I had been away from whitewater kayaking 10 years. With boater friends one mist-shrouded morning...
North Carolina Seniors: Don’t Make These Eight Common Gift-Giving Mistakes!
SENIOR GIFTING BACKGROUND The United States has not strategically planned aging well. Because aging-associated long term care costs are so high, and good alternatives for ill aging people may no longer be available, Medicaid for the "Aged Blind and Disabled" in North...
North Carolina Asset Protection: When Does a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust Make Sense?
You are getting a little older and wiser, and are thinking about what is really important. The family album you have tucked within your mind (and review there often before drifting off to sleep) has grown a lot, and now there are grandkids birthdays with giggles and...
It’s Time to Protect Our Elders Now
I can still remember the gentle resistance to the clear drinking glass rim as I pressed it through the soft biscuit dough. Then the hard "clack" as the glass struck the countertop. The child I was knew the fledgling biscuit was cut, almost perfectly round. My...
Early Special Needs Planning Helps to Preserve North Carolina Families’ Assets
If you are a special needs parent, you are likely already thinking about how to best protect your special needs child throughout life. Fortunately, it is not difficult to put estate planning protections in place which can give your special needs child, and the rest...