In our ongoing efforts to maintain the highest levels of education, information, and involvement in the Elder Law and Family Law fields, we continuously update our skills and legal education through attendance and involvement in seminars and speaking engagements in New England.
Below are some of our undertakings from March and October of 2010.
March 15 and March 19, 2010
Mediation training under the supervision of Bruce Kogan, Roger Williams School of Law
guest lecturer on “Mediating pension issues”
observer and commentator on the final student mock mediation
March 25, 2010
Mediation presentation for the National Association of Social Workers “From BFF to YBS” (From “Best Friends Forever” to “You’ll Be Sorry”, HOW MEDIATION CAN HELP.
Jeremy Howe presented with Frank & Michelle Geremia and Bryna Bettigole from the Rhode Island Mediators Association
October 27, 2010
Rhode Island Association of Mediators- mediation training
Mediation of Advanced Financial Cases, “Organizing the Data
And Balancing the Power”,
Jeremy Howe presented with co-mediator Nancy Johnson Gallagher, LICSW
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The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw
attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate
Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance
Benefits.
They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys,
Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues
such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military
Family Law.
Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.
Jeremy Howe, Kristy Garside and Hilary Carlson are Newport RI Family Law and Elder Law attorneys who maintain an Elder Law E-Newsletter, Elder Law News. Subscription inquiries can be directed to JoanHowe@counselfirst.com.
Showing posts with label disability pension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disability pension. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Early Incentive Pay Not Attached to Pension
Divorce Results from Newport Attorney Jeremy Howe
Newport RI Divorce and Estate Planning Attorneys Jeremy Howe & Associates secure a favorable decision for a divorce client in RI with pension issues.Hired by client to review the terms of his pension plan along with the terms of his divorce decree and the Qualified Domestic Relations Order that had been entered at the time to divide his pension for the benefit of the ex spouse. His company had informed him that if he elected his early retirement, his ex-wife would receive about one third of his “early incentive pay.”
We brainstormed the issues with a colleague and had conversations with legal counsel for the company. Ultimately we sent a letter stating our position that the ex-wife should not receive any portion of our client’s early incentive pay since it was not part of his pension.
He received the entire amount.
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The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.
They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys, Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military Family Law.
Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Newport RI Probate and Estate Attorney Jeremy Howe and Associates
Reflections While Rehabilitating
Since the operation, I have been on unfamiliar ground and have been required to make many decisions affecting my recovery. In making these decisions I turned to the “experts” involved in my care including physical therapists, occupational therapists and nurses. I knew that I would get the best advice from those who are on the “front line” of pain management, muscle strengthening and recovery from a major physical trauma.
As a result of those consultations, I did decide to delay the return to my home by taking advantage of a week of rehabilitation. Similarly, I followed their advice regarding all of the “small” decisions that came up every day. Should I get help putting my socks on or should I do it myself?
Some of this may sound minor but my point is that all of us probably would do better if we “Counsel first” with hands-on experts before we make life decisions, large and small.
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The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.
They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys, Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military Family Law.
Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
A surviving spouse can keep the Veteran's Disability Pension payment in the month of their death.
I found the following blurb on the U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs website, http://veterans.senate.gov/issues-benefits.cfm
I thought it would be worth noting for those that may have been affected before the administration caught up with the rule changes. I am an accredited attorney with the VA Administration and our office provides information to our clients regarding Veterans Benefits that may be available which relate to funding long term care.
If you, your parent or your spouse (even if you are a widow) is a Veteran, then call us today for more information. 401-841-5700
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In November, 2008, Chairman Akaka received a letter from the widow of a veteran regarding the Treasury Department’s seizure of funds from her bank account to reimburse the government for the VA compensation check issued to her late husband the month that he died. The widow had not been notified in advance of this action. Unaware that the funds were no longer in her account, she wrote several checks to honor obligations that she unknowingly could no longer cover. Her bank responded with financial penalties.
The Treasury Department was acting on flawed instructions from VA. Under a 1996 law, surviving spouses of a veteran may, in fact, keep a VA disability or pension check for the month in which the veteran dies. After Committee staff intervention, the widow was reimbursed for the amount at issue and the bank agreed to drop the overdraft fees.
Further examination revealed that the widow’s experience was not an isolated case of poor administration, but rather the result of VA’s failure to update its computer systems and policy in this area. Many other widows or widowers of service-connected veterans over the preceding twelve years may have experienced a similar hardship after suffering the loss of a spouse.
On December 5, 2008, Chairman Akaka contacted former VA Secretary Peake to alert him to the Committee staff findings and to request that he take corrective measures. In his December 11, 2008, response then-Secretary Peake agreed to remedy this error.
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The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.
They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys, Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military Family Law.
Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.
I thought it would be worth noting for those that may have been affected before the administration caught up with the rule changes. I am an accredited attorney with the VA Administration and our office provides information to our clients regarding Veterans Benefits that may be available which relate to funding long term care.
If you, your parent or your spouse (even if you are a widow) is a Veteran, then call us today for more information. 401-841-5700
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Surviving Spousal Benefits—Righting a Wrong:
In November, 2008, Chairman Akaka received a letter from the widow of a veteran regarding the Treasury Department’s seizure of funds from her bank account to reimburse the government for the VA compensation check issued to her late husband the month that he died. The widow had not been notified in advance of this action. Unaware that the funds were no longer in her account, she wrote several checks to honor obligations that she unknowingly could no longer cover. Her bank responded with financial penalties.
The Treasury Department was acting on flawed instructions from VA. Under a 1996 law, surviving spouses of a veteran may, in fact, keep a VA disability or pension check for the month in which the veteran dies. After Committee staff intervention, the widow was reimbursed for the amount at issue and the bank agreed to drop the overdraft fees.
Further examination revealed that the widow’s experience was not an isolated case of poor administration, but rather the result of VA’s failure to update its computer systems and policy in this area. Many other widows or widowers of service-connected veterans over the preceding twelve years may have experienced a similar hardship after suffering the loss of a spouse.
On December 5, 2008, Chairman Akaka contacted former VA Secretary Peake to alert him to the Committee staff findings and to request that he take corrective measures. In his December 11, 2008, response then-Secretary Peake agreed to remedy this error.
------------------------------------------
The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.
They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys, Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military Family Law.
Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.
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