Interactive Legal Blog

InterActive Legal Named “10 Best Technology Solution Providers of 2018” by Industry Era Magazine

InterActive Legal was recently certified by Industry Era, a digital technology magazine that features enterprise solutions that can play a key part in redefining the business goals of organizations, as one of the “10 Best Technology Solution Providers of 2018”.

Firmly established at the forefront of the industry, Estate Planning and Elder Law professionals turn to InterActive Legal’s flexible and intuitive drafting systems as their main resource for the latest in planning strategies, education, and professional collaboration.

Read more about how InterActive Legal is continuing to change the landscape of the technology industry with its dynamic solutions.

You’re Not Doing Yourself Any Favors if You’re Not Coaching Your Team

by Candace Wells, COO and Law Business Strategist, Attorney Alchemy

You’ve spent months, years - maybe even decades - serving your clients and building your business. You’ve probably spent just as long assembling the team that helps you do it all. You brought them onboard, trained them; you know they know what they’re doing and they do a good job. You may even give your team pretty regular feedback so they continue to improve and learn how to do new things. Maybe you go a step further and conduct a formal review every year. This is probably the time that you discuss job performance and maybe dole out a raise or two. Bravo! These are all the trademarks of a good boss and you’re probably miles ahead of the curve. But, have you ever coached your team? If you’re not sure what I mean, read on.

InterActive Legal Promotes Vanessa Kanaga to President

Melbourne, FL - InterActive Legal, a knowledge company and software solutions provider in the legal arena of trusts and estates, elder law, and special needs planning, announced this month the promotion of its 5-year veteran Director of Content Development, Vanessa Kanaga, to the office of President effective July 1st, 2018.  She will be involved in directing the day-to-day operations of the company, and will work with CEO, Michael L. Graham, to guide the company's future direction.

Waivers, Penalty Periods, and the 5 Year Lookback

Letha Sgritta McDowell, CELA, InterActive Legal

On April 17, 2018, the acting director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a policy clarification to all state Medicaid Directors regarding the imposition of penalty periods for individuals requesting Home and Community Based Services. The reaction to this guidance is mixed. In some states this clarification may be beneficial to many hoping to receive services in their home, while in others, this clarification may result in further delays in obtaining home services.

Individuals requesting Medicaid assistance with the payment of their nursing care expenses must meet certain eligibility criteria, both financial and non-financial, before Medicaid will begin assistance. The non-financial criteria include US Citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, state residency, and a demonstrated need for a certain level of care. The financial criteria include meeting certain income requirements and having minimal countable assets (there is no limit on non-countable assets). In addition, if an applicant or their spouse has made any uncompensated transfers, then Medicaid will impose a penalty based on the asset transfer.

How to Find the Next Superstar to Join Your Team

by Candace Wells, COO and Law Business Strategist, Attorney Alchemy

Hiring a new employee is an exciting time in your business. If it’s time to hire some help, it means you’ve met your goals and are anticipating more growth. Congratulations! You’re probably feeling a mixed bag of emotions - anticipation, excitement - maybe even a little fear. Hiring a new employee can also be daunting and a little terrifying, but don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be if you have a tried and true hiring process in place. Let’s dig in so you can start looking for your next superstar.

Watch Your Language – Irregardless of Trends

Vanessa L. Kanaga, InterActive Legal

 
If you are like most of my colleagues, the title of this piece had you grinding your teeth.  In the hopes that you might consider me a credible source and continue reading, allow me to state that I know the term "irregardless" is generally considered incorrect, convention saying that the correct term, "regardless," sufficiently conveys the same meaning.  I recently shocked CEO, Mike Graham, by telling him that irregardless is now acceptable.  Well, admittedly, I did not actually say that it is acceptable, but that I had been reading a book, Words on the Move, in which the author, John McWhorter, makes the case (and I am paraphrasing) that the English language is constantly changing, and words like irregardless may eventually make their way into the realm of acceptable speech, even in formal settings.  His point (again, in my words) is that the function of language is to communicate, and the words we use should be judged on their ability to serve that function; if they enable us to understand each other clearly, then we have no other reason to judge any particular word as "good," "bad," "right," or "wrong."  (For a much more in-depth and intelligent discussion of Words on the Move, please see this New York Times review by another writer whose work I greatly appreciate, Lynne Truss).

Keeping Your Digital Vault Complete, Correct & Current

Betsy Ehrenberg, CEO and founder of Legacy Concierge

 

With over 2.6 million deaths in the U.S. each year, family offices, wealth managers, loved ones and attorneys are often not prepared to effectively erase an electronic footprint and secure digital assets of the deceased.

Digital vaults are available from insurance companies, software providers, national banks, law firms and determined individuals using home-designed spreadsheets or password lists. Regardless of source or sophistication, users should be aware when a secure digital vault can create more problems than it was intended to solve.

First problem, is the vault complete? One easy way to determine if all needed information is in the vault is to imagine who will have access, what they are looking for and why its contents will be used. Generally, persons who need to access vault materials include spouse, sibling, child and/or attorney. Additionally, the vault builder or owner might need to use items in the vault to obtain user names and passwords. Given its many users and uses, it is vital that stored information should be easy to read and understand.

Teresa Bush - Employee of the Quarter

Visit Teresa's bio, here. 

Not Just Lonely Words on a Page, but REAL People Making REAL Differences

Sally Chung, CFP, ChFC, JD, Elder Law Planning® subscriber, bestows a “basket of thanks” upon InterActive Legal’s Teresa Bush

 

Recently, InterActive Legal Director of Education and Support Services, Teresa Bush, received a sincere and generous “Thank You” from subscriber Sally Chung, who migrated over from a competitor in the Elder Law document drafting arena.

Ms. Chung had requested additional assistance in document selection and interviews within the ILS drafting suite. Teresa went above and beyond in assisting Ms. Chung with the transition from her old system to the more robust drafting system offered by InterActive Legal.

Rock-steady guidance and leadership from Teresa was rewarded in the form of a super-sized gourmet gift basket, sent virtually across the country, from our new subscriber.

We’re proud Teresa is one of our cornerstones. Rock on Teresa!

Have you Met Clayton?

Teresa Bush, JD., InterActive Legal

A television show in the early 2000's had a frequently-used bit where a popular guy would introduce his somewhat shy friend to women at the neighborhood bar with the quick line “Have you met Ted?”  It’s likely that the women otherwise never would have had the opportunity to meet Ted, as he was a bit of a wallflower.  I feel the same way about the Clayton QTIP.

Before joining InterActive Legal (ILS) in 2007, I practiced estate planning law for sixteen years, and I never once drafted a document using a Clayton QTIP.  Nor, to my knowledge, did any of the attorneys with whom I practiced.  Honestly, we didn’t pay much attention to the Clayton decision back then.  Only when I began working with ILS documents did I learn what a great option the Clayton QTIP can be for flexibility in estate planning, as an alternative – or in addition to – a disclaimer plan.  Had I not started working with ILS, I probably never would have taken the opportunity to understand this planning tool.