Virginia Elder Law

It seems either a professional's name is followed by a bunch of letters or the membership organizations they tout  are growing exponentially! It can get quite confusing. I myself am a CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney) and a member of NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) and Board Member in VAELA (Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys).  I earned my CELA designation, I am members of the other organizations.

Here is a good article further breaking down the code of all the letters. 

http://www.nelf.org/articles/naela-nelf-cela-actec-what-does-it-all-mean

We received a nice write up on the website Work It SOVA!!

Work It, SoVa

BASSETT, VA. - The law firm of Robert W Haley is opening  an office  in downtown Danville.  The office is in the First Citizens Bank Building, 530 Main Street, Suite 302.  The office will open Thursday January 10th, 2013 and Mr. Haley will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only.  The office is the Bassett based firm’s second location

As Southside Virginia’s only “Certified Elder Law Attorney”, Haley is excited to begin practicing in the Danville area.  “When I began to think about growth, Danville was the logical choice.  The rebirth of the downtown area is exciting ,” said Haley., “ I look forward to joining the downtown community.”

Haley limits his practice to the areas of Elder Law and Estate Planning.  One of his areas of concentration is protecting assets from the ever rising costs of long term care.  “What we really offer our clients is peace of mind, they are so relieved to know there is someone there to help them steer through the maze of Medicare, Medicaid, spend downs, as well as through tax planning, probate avoidance and wills and powers of attorneys.  We are dedicated to our families.”

The Danville office is the firm’s second location. The law office was founded in Bassett  in 19?? And Haley took  over leadership of the law practice in 1994. Haley is an honors graduate of the University of Maryland and the University of Virginia School of law and a veteran of the United Sates Air Force.

For a consultation, call 1 855 5) ELDER to set an appointment and visit our website at www.vaelderlaw.com for more information.  

A few weeks ago I received an email from an old professor of mine from my days in Europe.  Today, I had a FaceBook comment from a treasured teacher and friend of my high school years.  It got me thinking about all the people that have influenced my life as I earned my education.

This list is by no means complete, but here are some of the people that have had a great influence on me:

Virginia Woody, Campbell Court Elementary School, 2nd Grade:  Mrs Woody was one of the first to inspire me to love learing and the power of reading!

Mrs Millner, Mary Hunter Intermediate School: Through the 6th and 7th grade Mrs Millner was a wonderful lady, mixing learning with a lot of fun!

Mr Kasey, JD Bassett High School: though many of us would never have admitted it then, Mr Kasey was the epitome of what a high school teacher shoudl be!  He expected preparation and excellence!  I remember beggin my parents to let me drop out of his Wolrd History class.  I look back on it and now know I missed something special!

Gerald Byrd:  I really hated English, but Mr Byrd showed me I loved literature could write and write well.  I once brushed up a paper I did for him that I made a C on, and made an A on it at PHCC!

Professor Paul Rose: When I arrived in Germany, I decided to go back to college. Dr Rose had a great influence on me.  He had been a Professor overseas for the University of Maryland for decades and taught courses in my major of Government & Politics.  He was a wonderful professor.  He would always have "office hours" after the last class of the week (Thursday night) in a small GastHaus in Landsthuhl.   He encouraged me to get involved in the Ramstein Council on Foreign Relations and he even got me invited to a trip to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg France!  He was vital in my return to school as he kept me interested and enciouraged me aways!

Professor Alan Ertl: Dr Ertl was the professor who emailed me last month.  Dr Ertl taught in the economics department, my secondary area of concentration.  Many hacve called economics :the dismal science" but Dr Ertl just had a way to make it fascinating!  As long as I live I will never forget his final exam in our International Economics class.  He came in with no papers, nothing.  He walked to the chalk board, wrote the words "Why Trade?" and told us we had three hours.  Dr Ertl was instrumental in my decision to leave the Air Force and go to law school.  

Professor O'Connell: Many of you may have seen my post yesterday about Professor O'Connell's passing.  I had two courses with Professor O'Connell and the thing I recall the most, was his desire to make the law relevant in everyday life!  Law was not just the courtroom or the rules of evidence.  The law can be used to make our lives better!  I've never forgotten that.

Professor Larry Sabato: I was fortunate to have been accepted into  Larry's "Virginia Government & Politics" class as part of my graduate work for my Masters degree.  Not only has he became a friend I still bounce ideas off today, Professor Sabato was a model of what a Scholar/Professor should be!  

I have been very fortunate to have had these great educators, and others, along my journey.  I hope this may trigger your memories and of those who have been influential in your education. Remember them with fondness, for they have helped you along your way to a well spent life.

While income tax rates and spedning issues received all the attention, the estate tax was also a big pasrt of the last minute "fiscall cliff" negotiations!  In 2012 the exemption amount as $5.12 million and the rate 35%.  If Congress did not act, the exemption would fall back to $1 million and the rate rise to 55%!! 

Fortunately, at this this time, Congress did something right!  Deborah Jacobs of Forbes.com explains:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2013/01/02/after-the-fiscal-cliff-deal-estate-and-gift-tax-explained/

As I sit at my desk this New Year's Eve, I find myself in much anticipation of what the future holds for this law firm!  Many changes have been made and are being made as we move into 2013.  Just yesterday we announced the hiring of Jessica Spangler as a new Associate Attorney in the firm.  I am very fortunate to have Jessica join us!  There will be other announcements in the near future!

Yet let me take this time to thank my staff, for without them, I would be lost at times.  Heather Johnston takes care of all the residential real estate closings and loan cloasings!  Heather has been with me over 15 years!  She is a true professional.  Brandy Powers is my legal assistant.  She truly does it all for us here!  Glenda Black is our administrative assistant and she has been a great addition in 2012.

As many of you know, my longtime Office Manager Betty Wright retired from fuill time service a while back, but she continues to come in and do the books and accounting, and a lot more!  She continues to me a great source of advice and wisdom!

I just want to thank all of these ladies for the loyalty, hard work and the genuine concern they all feel for our families and clients!  

I resolve to add more posts to the blog more often in 2013!  So I hope you will add us to your Facebook or Twitter (@vaelderlaw) or check back here daily.

Happy New Year and may God bless you and your family in 2013!

BASSETT, VA – December 30, 2012 – The Law Offices of Robert W. Haley are pleased to announce the addition of Jessica Spangler as a new associate attorney with the firm.

Ms. Spangler will be based at the firm’s offices located on Fairystone Park Highway in Bassett.

Spangler previously worked in both the Patrick County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the Martinsville Commonwealth Attorney’s Office while completing her legal studies.   Spangler also worked as a clerk for Patrick County Circuit Court Judge Martin Clark of Stuart, and most recently was an intern for Haley.

Spangler received her Juris Doctor degree, from the Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in Birmingham Alabama, and her Bachelor of Science in Political Science, from Greensboro College in North Carolina.

Spangler, is a native of the Fieldale area of Henry County., “I am so excited to begin my career as an associate attorney working under Robert Haley. He has given me a wonderful opportunity to practice not only in an area of law I love to study, but also in my home of Henry County. Mr Haley is an exceptional mentor and I cannot wait to see what the future holds,” said Spangler.

“Her experiences and background make her a valuable asset to increase our firm’s ability to provide our clients with expertise in estate planning and elder law, while maintaining that close, hometown relationship with our clients,” said Haley .

The law offices of Robert W. Haley specialize in Estate Planning, Elder Law/Care, and Asset Protection.  For more information on Ms. Spangler or the firm, visit our website at www.VAElderLaw.com.

Congratulations are in order for my friend and colleague, Sandra Chinn-Gilstrap for joining Woods Rogers in Danville:

Sandra T. Chinn-Gilstrap, known for her trial practice and advocacy of family and domestic-law clients as well as mental health patients, has joined the Danville office of Woods Rogers PLC, continuing a life-long love of – and devotion to – the City on the Dan.

Formerly a solo practitioner, she joins Woods Rogers as Of Counsel effective Oct. 1. In addition to running her own firm since 1995, she has served on the first Supreme Court of Virginia Mental Health Rule Task Force Committee, which promotes professional standards for mental health cases and drafts statewide rules.

Chinn-Gilstrap joins one of the most recognized and experienced legal teams in Virginia and welcomes her existing clients to Woods Rogers.

View the full press release here.

These seniors are certainly born to ride!

In his nearly 50 years as an avid motorcyclist, Grady Howard has roared down the tobacco roads of North Carolina and through the mountains of old Kentucky, all with his wife, Barbara, tucked behind him. But with a balky left leg and myriad other maladies, he knew the only way to stay wild was to add a wheel.

“I told my wife it was either trike it or park it,” said Mr. Howard, 74, wearing a cowboy hat and a bright yellow safety shirt. “And she said, ‘Trike it.’ ”

Read the full story here.

I am not surprised by theses findings.  Many people have a misunderstanding of what Medicare will and will not cover!  This is just another reason why asset protection planning is so important!

Many U.S. seniors have trouble saving enough money to handle health care costs beyond what Medicare covers, a new study suggests.

As a result, a significant portion of their savings and other assets go to paying their end-of-life costs when they die.

In the last five years of life, out-of-pocket co-payments and deductibles, and the high cost of home care services, assisted living and long-term nursing home care cause 25 percent of seniors to spend more than their total non-housing assets, the study found.

"The biggest problem for many families is covering long-term care," said study author Dr. Amy Kelley, an assistant

Read more here.