Bradley Vauter & Associates, P.C.

02/16/2025

11/01/2024

a reminder from Kiplinger's that some seniors might be able to get a little extra break on income taxes--as always the particulars will matter--but look into it all the same:

The extra standard deduction can help older adults reduce their taxable income.

10/25/2024

in the coming weeks and months, we will be working more closely with other firms and attorneys--including Michelle Goetz, who many of you already know--to facilitate Brad's upcoming career shift and changes.....no neeed to panic, but just know that sometimes going forward, the firm might be suggesting others and/or farming out a bit of your work, with your permission....

10/01/2024

It's good to know that in Michigan there are several approaches to probating an estate, and some are somewhat simple--others more complex. Choosing one approach or another usually requires figuring out the approximate amount of the estate, what sort of creditors there might be, and figuring out the heirs, or next of kin, and/or beneficiaries under any will, if there is a will. Sometimes the situation, after looking at the facts on hand, will lend itself to the quite simple approach and we just consult with clients but inform them they can "do-it-yourself" and sometimes that's not the case, and we advise they hire an attorney.

In February of this year Michigan raised the level for "order and assignment" or small estate approaches, to $50,000.00 (and that's after deduction for funeral/cremation, etc.). So some of the more modest estates can be taken care of rather quickly and smoothly with little expense.

If you are thinking of handling an estate, or wondering about estate administration, you can set up a consult with us. A consult doesn't obligate you to use our services going forward--sometimes you can tackle things on your own, or sometimes you might find another firm or we can make a referral to other firms by agreement, if needed.

(Consultations with us, up to an hour, are provided at half our normal hourly rates. If the consult is shorter than an hour, the amount if pro-rated, and if a consult would take more than an hour, 2nd and subsequent hours are at our normal rates.)

09/10/2024

this is an old bit, but her invocation before a conference on aging is still pretty neat:

Mary Maxwell's Invocation at the 2012 Aging in America Conference Mary Maxwell reminds us once again that laughter is the best medicine with her invocation a...

08/02/2024

Looking for nursing homes can be tricky, but one tool you might want to consider, is this federal website that allows a look at homes, and their track records, etc....Keep in mind it is just one decent tool, and there may be other things to consider as you look into homes...

Find Medicare-approved providers near you & compare care quality for nursing homes, doctors, hospitals, hospice centers, more. Official Medicare site.

07/08/2024

This TV show came out a while back, a coach from the states, knowing little about soccer, ends up coaching an unhearled soccer team in Great Britain who start winning games....Along the way a lot of pithy ideas about life, some saccharine, some not, get dispensed...This is one example...a player is outed or comes out as gay, most other players are saying 'they don't care' but the coach says, maybe they do or should care...

06/19/2024

Something to think about?

05/30/2024

Reverse mortgages, handy for some, but a trap for the unwary for others. The feds have tweaked some of the regulations a bit to help the consumer. Remember, if you or a loved one took out a reverse mortgage, the taxes and insurance still need to be paid even though the 'loan' itself is not typically paid until one dies or one leaves the home. Some tips from an advocacy group can be found here in the nature of training slides: https://vimeo.com/944530506

And a housing newsletter makes mention of some of the changes here: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/hud-publishes-several-changes-to-reverse-mortgage-handbook-section/

HUD has published revisions to the recently overhauled reverse mortgage section of the Single Family Housing Handbook 4000.1.