You may have heard advertisements warning you that thieves can steal your home by forging your name on a deed. Purportedly, these bad actors can then resell the property or take out a mortgage loan to drain the equity and “stick” you with the mortgage payments. In such cases, the forger hasn’t actually acquired the rights to your property. It’s more like a case of identity theft in which the fraudster can subsequently fool someone into
As of press time, the CDC had barred residential landlords from evicting most tenants through December 31, 2020. Other eviction bans may apply in your situation, and it’s possible the federal ban could be extended. However, the rules will inevitably expire, and there are several important things tenants and landlords need to know about their rights. Over the course of the pandemic, many landlords and tenants have had to address rental shortfalls. Some renters, unable to
When a property owner dies without a will, the real estate passes to his or her heirs as tenants in common. This is known as “heirs’ property.” If one of these tenants wants to sell but the others won’t agree, a tenant can file a partition lawsuit to force a sale of the property in its entirety. Property advocates say land speculators obtain a share of an heirs’ property for the purpose of forcing a sale
In October, the Atlanta City Council unanimously approved legislation that would allow tenants to pay their security deposit in installments, or purchase security deposit insurance, in lieu of an up-front cash payment. Atlanta is the second city to pass this type of “Renter’s Choice” law, following Cincinnati in January 2020. More could be coming. Landlords typically require security deposits, usually equal to one- or two-months’ rent, when new tenants sign a lease. The deposit is returned
Remote work practices may be sparking a new residential trend away from urban areas. City dwellers, accustomed to living in small, high-priced apartments, are now looking for bigger spaces in the suburbs. Rents are rising in suburban markets outside major cities, such as Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to data firm CoStar Group Inc. Analysts say these areas allow residents more space and lower rents, while keeping them near enough to work for
If you become incapacitated, who will make your medical decisions? A health care proxy allows you to appoint someone else to act as your agent for medical decisions. It will ensure that your medical treatment instructions are carried out, and it is especially important to have a health care proxy if you and your family may disagree about treatment. Without a health care proxy, your doctor may be required to provide you with medical treatment that you
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating for nursing homes and their residents. Aside from the tragically disproportionate loss of life, care for surviving residents has been delayed or interrupted due to infection, facility lockdowns or other health system disruptions. In such cases, Medicare beneficiaries who qualified for skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage may be eligible for an additional 100 days of coverage. Whether all qualified beneficiaries will actually get the extended coverage is another question. Medicare does not pay
Older Americans with a life insurance policy that they no longer need have the option to sell the policy to investors. These transactions, called “life settlements,” can bring in needed cash, but are they a good idea? If your children are grown and your mortgage is paid off, you may decide that there is no longer a reason to be paying premiums every month for a life insurance policy, or you may reach a time when
Ideally, a second marriage that joins two families together is a joyous occasion that creates one bigger family unit. Unfortunately, it too often also can eventually produce inheritance fights between stepparents and children. A good estate plan is necessary to help avoid these types of family squabbles. When two people marry who both have children from previous relationships, complications can arise. Married people typically leave everything to their spouse, so children from the previous relationship may
Taking care of an aging parent can be a full-time job. Children may have to give up paying jobs in order to provide adequate care. Unfortunately, caregiving is usually unpaid work. Parents who want to compensate a child who takes on the burden of caregiving may do so in one of several ways: Caregiver agreements. Caregiver agreements are an increasingly popular way to ensure a caregiver child is compensated for his or her work. A caregiver agreement (also
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