Interactive Legal Blog

Pursuit of Higher Education Creates Upward Mobility at InterActive Legal

 

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Megan Respol has left her role as InterActive Legal's Finance & Operations Coordinator to pursue a Master’s in Criminology at Florida State University’s College of Criminal Justice. Megan served her role well, having been baptized by hurricanes a year ago when she arrived just as the office was battening down the hatches in preparation for hurricanes Irma and Maria. We wish all the best to Megan and will miss her. 

 

Stepping into the role vacated by Megan is our very own Deanne McDougall, who has served as InterActive Legal’s Customer Relations Coordinator since 2015. Deanne will now serve as the Human Resources & Operations Coordinator, a well-deserved promotion, and a natural fit, given her attention to detail. We have high expectations for her continued growth. In addition to her excellent work at InterActive Legal, Deanne is an attentive mother to her 7-year-old son, Jordan, and is equally accomplished in the culinary arts. 

 

 Subscribers who have had the pleasure of speaking with our Implementation & Office Coordinator, Victoria Holmes, know that her efficient and friendly demeanor makes her the compelling and logical choice to move into the Customer Relations Coordinator role. A lifelong learner investing in her future, Victoria is presently attending Eastern Florida State College where she is pursuing simultaneous degrees in Advanced Allied Health and Financial Management. Victoria is an avid member of the International Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a recognition of distinguished excellence in her studies. We are betting on a very promising future for Victoria at InterActive Legal.

 

Telephone Intake Scripts Decrease Fee Objections, Increase Closure Rates, and Save Hours of Time

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

You’ve probably heard that policies, procedures, systems, and processes will not only save your sanity, but also make you and your team more efficient. Maybe you even “get” it and want to document your processes, but don’t know where to start. I hear you. It can be daunting to figure out where to begin.

My recommendation? Start small. By formalizing your intake script, you can get started on documenting how things work in your firm and decrease fee objections, increase your closure rates, and save hours of your time.

Let me explain.

SSA Clarifies Sole Benefit Rule: Trustees May Breathe a Little Easier

by Elizabeth Q. Boehmcke

Practitioners who regularly work with special needs clients are probably aware that the Social Security Administration ("SSA") released revisions to the Program Operating Manual System ("POMS") on April 30, 2018.  But since many of us are still processing the revisions, I hope to highlight some of them for those of us who are between CLE sessions. 

These revisions may come as welcome news to attorneys who draft special needs trusts or advise trustees of special needs trusts.  I am unfortunately limited herein primarily to highlighting the sole benefit rule revisions.  However, there were a number of important changes and if you want more details, you may want to review the full article I drafted, which you can find here.

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.