www.StrohscheinLawGroup.com

Strohschein Outlook

January 2017

630-377-3241

St. Charles, Illinois

Public Speaking

Linda Strohschein, Principal Elder Law Attorney, Colleen Ceh Becvar, Gerontologist & Care Coordinator, and Vicki Montgomery, Director of Marketing, actively host and co-host public speaking events as well as community services to provide up-to-date education on Elder Law topics. If you would like to invite Linda, Colleen or Vicki to a community group meeting, please visit our website to learn of the topics and services with which Strohschein Law Group can assist, and call us at 630-377-3241 to check availability.

Wednesday, January 18, 2016

Vicki will present “Cultural Diversity” at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Wednesday, January 25, 2016

Vicki will present “Work Smarter, Not Harder” at Heritage Woods in South Elgin.

Tuesday, January 31, 2016

Linda and Colleen will participate in a panel discussion at the Wayne Township Senior Center.

2017 Speaker Topics are available. See the Helpful Resources page on our website.

www.StrohscheinLawGroup.com

February 2017

Lunch & Learn Series

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm

Modern Medicine & Living the Life You Choose Modern medicine has transformed birth, injury and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. When it comes to aging and death, which is inevitable for us all, the goals of medicine can run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Join us as we explore ways that a person’s last weeks or months may be rich and dignified.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm

POLST vs. DNR POLST, Advanced Directives, DNR—If you are confused about the relationship between each of these documents, you are not alone. Even intelligent and competent clinicians, including first responders, hospice staff and nursing home staff, have many misunderstandings about the use of the POLST form. This workshop will help you to understand the relationship between a Power of Attorney and a POLST form, and when each is appropriate for patient completion.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm

The Conversation: End of Life Issues and You Have you had the conversation with your loved one? Have you thought about what matters most to you at the end-of-life? Death, while inevitable, is one of the most difficult things for most people to talk about. However, when it comes to end-of-life care, one conversation can make all the difference. Join us as we explore issues you may want to consider in your own conversation.

The Meeting Place @ 457

457 Dunham Road, Suite 200 St. Charles, IL 60174

Please RSVP to Vicki at 630-377-3241 or invite@StrohscheinLawGroup.com

Strohschein Outlook

January 2017

630-377-3241

Is It Better to Remarry or Just Live Together?

Continued on page 3

Finding love later in life may be unexpected and exciting, but should it lead to marriage? The considerations are much different for an older couple with adult children and retirement plans than for a young couple just starting out. Before deciding whether to get married or just live together, you need to look at your estate plan, your Social Security benefits, and your potential long-term care needs, among other things. Whatever you decide to do,

you may want to consult with your lawyer to make sure your wishes will be carried out.

Here are some things to think about:

Estate Planning. Getting married can have a big effect on your estate plan. Even if you don't include a new spouse in your will, in most states spouses are automatically entitled to a share of your estate (usually one-third to one-half). One way to prevent a spouse from taking his or her share is to enter into a prenuptial agreement in which both spouses agree not to take anything from the other's estate. If you want to leave something to your spouse and ensure your heirs receive their inheritance, a trust may be the best option.

Long-Term Care. Trusts and prenuptial agreements, however, won't necessarily keep a spouse from being responsible for your long-term care costs or vice versa. In addition, getting married can have an effect on your or your spouse's Medicaid eligibility. If you can afford it, a long-term care insurance policy may be a good investment once you remarry.

The Family Home. Whether you are getting married or just living together, before combining households you will need to think about what will happen to the house once the owner of the

Tune in to Huntley Community Radio - 101.5 FM -

On Friday’s at 3:00 PM for Linda Strohschein's radio

program, Protecting What Matters.

Get Social!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest tips,

information and reminders on all of our events.

Strohschein Outlook

January 2017

630-377-3241

Remarry or Live Together Continued

Open

Forum

Thursday, January 26th

4:00—5:00 pm The Meeting Place @ 457 457 Dunham Road, Suite 200 St. Charles, IL 60174 No appointment necessary!

Do you have questions about planning your

estate? Or caring for a loved one who requires long term care? Come chat with our experts in this informal setting about the questions that keep you up at night. We have the answers.

house dies. If the owner wants to keep the house within his or her family, putting the house in both spouse's names is not an option. On the other hand, the owner may also not want his or her heirs to evict the surviving spouse once the owner dies. One solution is for the owner of the house to give the surviving spouse a life estate. Once the surviving spouse dies, the house will pass to the original owner's heirs.

Social Security. Many divorced or widowed seniors receive Social Security from their former spouses, and remarriage can affect benefits. If you are divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, you can collect retirement benefits on your former spouse's Social Security record if you are at least age 62 and if your former spouse is entitled to or receiving benefits. If you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later

marriage ends (whether by death, divorce, or annulment). However, if your are a widow, widower or surviving divorced spouse who remarries after age 60, you are entitled to benefits on your prior deceased spouse's Social Security earnings record.

Alimony. If you are receiving alimony from a divorced spouse, it will likely end once you remarry. Depending on the laws in your state and your divorce settlement, alimony may end even if you simply live with someone else.

Survivor's Annuities. Widows and widowers of public employees, such as police officers and firefighters, often receive survivor's annuities. Many of these annuities end if the surviving spouse remarries. In addition widows and widowers of military personnel may lose their annuities if they remarry before age 57. Before getting married, check your annuity policy to see what the affect will be.

College Financial Aid. Single parents with children in college may want to reconsider before getting married. A new spouse's income could affect the amount of financial aid the college student

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Strohschein Outlook

January 2017

630-377-3241

Estate Planning

Long-Term Care Planning

Care Coordination

Guardianship

Estate & Trust Administration

Probate Litigation

We deal with sensitive family situations every day, and realize how difficult they can be. In the event of tragedy, such as

the death or serious illness of a loved one, dealing with related legal issues might seem like an insurmountable burden.

At Strohschein Law Group, we understand the complexities involved, and are ready to help you navigate them. We are

committed to providing knowledgeable, caring and personal counsel - whether you are handling the unexpected or

planning for your future.

Phone: 630.377.3241

Fax: 630.377.3244

St. Charles, Illinois

www.StrohscheinLawGroup.com

Linda Strohschein,

Principal Elder Law Attorney

Colleen Ceh Becvar,

Gerontologist - Care Coordinator

receives. Some private colleges may even count the combined income of a couple that lives together if they commingle their expenses.

For additional information about estate planning, contact a certified Elder Law Attorney such as

Linda Strohschein and her team at Strohschein Law Group. To set up an appointment, contact

Strohschein Law Group at 630-377-3241.

Remarry or Live Together Continued