Blog: News & Insights

If you are the advocate for someone in a nursing home — your spouse, parent, friend, relative — you may sometimes notice unusual behavior which is different from what you are accustomed to seeing with your loved one. Speak up. Ask the social worker what has changed. Is there a new roommate? A different aide waking the resident up in the morning? Is there another resident who is...

It is common that the Veterans Law Section of Fink Rosner Ershow-Levenberg gets inquires regarding military/veterans legal representation that are not specifically related to the Department of Veterans Affairs and Title 38.  A common issue is veterans seeking representation to request a military discharge upgrade and/or correction of military records.  Many veterans are confused on how to...

You may have heard that you should set things up to “avoid probate.” Bank or brokerage personnel may have recommended that you ” add a pay on death beneficiary, or a joint owner, so you can avoid probate.” There are fallacies built into that advice which can lead to unintended complications after death. Estate administration is a process that can include many elements...

Last week I saw “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,” a drama at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 47th Street in NYC. What an excellent production. http://curiousonbroadway.com/?gclid=CKa58f_qkMECFa1m7AoddGsArQ Based on a novel written in the first person by the protagonist, 15-year old Christopher Boone, it’s a story about a weird discovery he makes one evening,...

In a new but unpublished decision by the Superior Court, Appellate Division, a person applying for benefits under the State’s Traumatic Brain Injury Fund (TBIF)  was denied reimbursement for certain equipment due to apparent failure to properly follow all of the procedural requirements for obtaining same. B.B. V. Division of Disability Services ( A-3151-12T3, decided Nov. 17, 2014). The...

A few weeks ago, the Veterans Health Care Administration (VHA) released an updated version of the handbook explaining a veteran’s explanation of rights and benefits.  The attached sample, accessible at 2014 Veterans Health Benefits Handbook, will essentially be the same as the personalized version that veterans should receive in the mail. If you have questions regarding your eligibility...

Legislation is pending in the Congress concerning the payment of a veteran’s survivor benefits. Under current law, a veteran’s survivor benefits which are payable to the veteran’s children must be paid directly to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary is disabled and is dependent upon other governmental benefits which are means-tested, this could cause the recipient to be...

On Tuesday December 2, 2014 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, there will be a free symposium on aging and caregiving at the JCC at 1391 Martine Avenue, Scotch Plains NJ 07076 called “Managing the Aging Process – Practical Advice for Adults with Aging Relatives.” Here’s the flyer: Center for Hope (3) Supper is included free! The event is co-sponsored by the JCC and the Center for...

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Christie signed A2955, called the CARE Act. http://legiscan.com/NJ/bill/A2955/2014 The bill requires hospitals to ask patients to identify their intended post-discharge caregiver, and obligates the hospitals to provide information and instruction to the caregiver no later than 24 hours prior to discharge concerning the components of the discharge care plan and the...

There is a bill concerning Guardianship actions that was passed by the State Senate that is awaiting action by the State Assembly, called S-1957. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/S2000/1957_I1.HTM. The State Senate passed it with amendments which are described here: 1957_S2 Legislative status can be found at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp This bill concerns the proofs...