Problems With Guardianship System Is Focus of John Oliver Show
John Oliver recently highlighted problems with the guardianship system on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. The comedian provided a scary and funny explanation of how guardianship works, ending with a public service announcement by William Shatner, Lily Tomlin and others explaining steps you can take to avoid the guardianship. The show focuses on the abuses of a professional...
Read MoreWhen Can an Adult Child Be Liable for a Parent’s Nursing Home Bill?
Although a nursing home cannot require a child to be personally liable for their parent’s nursing home bill, there are circumstances in which children can end up having to pay. This is a major reason why it is important to read any admission agreements carefully before signing. Federal regulations prevent a nursing home from requiring a third party to be personally liable as a condition of...
Read MoreWeb Linking
Q. I have an author web site, and link to many other author and publisher sites. In the past you’ve said there may be liability for this. Is this still true? A. As a general rule, you are not liable for linking to other sites. Obviously, without linking, there would be no World Wide Web. But as with all general rules, there are exceptions. Copyright infringement claims can be made when a...
Read MoreCopyright Notices
All About Copyright Notices New publishers and self-published authors often have questions about a seemingly simple task: drafting the copyright notice. Copyright, of course, is a form of protection provided by U.S. and international law to owners of “original works of authorship.” Most writers (and readers) are aware a copyright notice bestows important intellectual property rights upon the...
Read More6 Things to Ask Before Agreeing to Be a Trustee
Being asked to serve as the trustee of the trust of a family member is a great honor. It means that the family member trusts your judgment and is willing to put the welfare of the beneficiary or beneficiaries in your hands. But being a trustee is also a great responsibility. You need to go into it with your eyes wide open. Here are six questions to ask before saying “yes”: May I...
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