Disclaimer: Note that the firm is no longer accepting cases for the anti-psychotic medication Abilify or Tylenol autism cases. Thank you.
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Estate Planning in the New Year

New Year’s resolutions are usually decisions to accomplish a goal or break a habit. They often include introspection, re-evaluation of life choices, and planning beneficial personal and professional lifestyle changes. One of the best resolutions for 2021 is to create or revise an estate plan. Estate planning can help set goals for financial security and provide for loved ones. It is an opportunity to document preferences for health care and provide management of assets in incapacity or death. In addition to guiding the distribution of a decedent’s assets, an estate plan can convey a chosen guardian’s name for minor children. It can create a succession plan for a business owner to transfer control of a business to another. In today’s technological world, estate planning can provide instructions for digital assets’ disposition.

 

The Creation of a Will or Living Trust is Pivotal to Estate Asset Protection

There are key differences between a last will & testament and a living trust. However, either of these documents can be utilized to control the distribution of assets in an estate. Decedents without either of these documents are said to die intestate. It means that their assets are distributed at the discretion of the probate court system, regardless of the deceased’s wishes.

 

  • A living trust designates a trusted person to manage your estate for times of incapacitation or after death, without a costly and time-consuming probate proceeding. Trusts must be funded, which is the process of transferring assets while the grantor (the person creating the trust) is living. Those items not transferred into the trust are subject to probate court.
  • A last will & testament is a roadmap for the distribution of assets; however, it must pass through the probate process. Probate can be a lengthy and costly process, while the court reviews and validates the will before closing out the estate. Parents with minor children are encouraged to complete a will. In this document, the parent can designate a legal guardian for their children.

 

Advanced Directives and a Power of Attorney to Manage your Health Care and Finances

Health care advanced directives are legal documents that include a health care proxy, a living will, and a do not resuscitate order. (referred to as a DNR). These documents voice medical wishes in the event of physical or mental incapacitation. They guide health care providers to follow a patient’s wishes and authorize a chosen agent to make health care decisions. Examples of vital health care decisions are artificial nutrition and hydration, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, blood transfusions, and more.

A power of attorney is the legal appointment of a trusted person to manage business affairs for an unavailable or incapacitated person. In addition to health care concerns, it is essential to have a power of attorney in place for someone traveling and unable to be contacted or deployed in the military service. The scope of authorization can be time-limited, valid for certain transactions only, or all financial matters. A power of attorney is invalidated following a person’s death.

 

Why Health Care Advanced Directives matter in Mass Torts

Recovery from a mass tort lawsuit due to injuries, illnesses, and even death, can be a lengthy process. An incapacitated person does not lose their rights in a litigation context if they have an agent named in an Advanced Directive to act on their behalf. The Michael Brady Lynch Firm has successfully litigated mass torts settlements for more than two decades. We can provide proper estate planning to guide the allocation of settlement proceeds after death to bypass the process of probate.

The Right Attorney can help you Create a Strategy to Meet your Goals

At the Michael Brady Lynch Firm, we create comprehensive estate plans to ensure that your assets will go to those you have selected. When the time comes, we want to ease your survivors’ administrative burden as they deal with their grief. We handle all legal matters in creating an estate plan or estate administration with knowledgeable and compassionate support. We remain current on state and federal tax laws to reduce your taxes, protect your assets, and use the tax laws to your advantage.

Update on The New Maryland Child Sexual Abuse Law

Update on The New Maryland Child Sexual Abuse Law

Maryland recently made a landmark change to its legal landscape by eliminating the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases under the **Child Victims Act of 2023**. This law, upheld by the Maryland Supreme Court in February 2025, allows survivors to file lawsuits regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred.

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PIP Insurance Coverage Florida: How it Works

PIP Insurance Coverage Florida: How it Works

Florida is one of 12 “no-fault” insurance states, requiring drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance on vehicles operated in the state. PIP insurance allows injured drivers to receive compensation for damages and medical expenses by utilizing their insurance coverage.

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An Update on PFAS Cases: New Contamination Sites in US

An Update on PFAS Cases: New Contamination Sites in US

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” have been a growing concern due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. Recent developments have highlighted new contamination sites and legal actions aimed at addressing these issues across the United States.

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Nursing Home Abuse: An Overview

Nursing Home Abuse: An Overview

Nursing home abuse involves the mistreatment, neglect, or exploitation of residents in long-term care facilities. This includes skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other institutions responsible for the care of elderly or vulnerable adults. Under both federal and state laws, these facilities are required to provide residents with a safe, dignified, and compassionate environment.

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Oxbryta Recall: What You Need to Know

Oxbryta Recall: What You Need to Know

Oxbryta is a prescription medication developed to help people with sickle cell disease (SCD). It works by improving the oxygen-carrying ability of red blood cells and reducing the complications that come with SCD, like pain crises and organ damage. While it’s been seen as a breakthrough for managing this condition, a recent recall has raised serious concerns about its safety.

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Wegovy Lawsuits and Media Attention Increase

Wegovy Lawsuits and Media Attention Increase

Wegovy is a concentrated form of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor drug approved by the FDA to manage type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Wegovy is similar to Ozempic and manufactured by the same drug company, Novo Nordisk. As we’ve reported recently, patients who suffered from gastroparesis and blindness after taking Ozempic are filing cases against the drug’s manufacturer.

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Depo-Provera Lawsuits: Do You Have a Case?

Depo-Provera Lawsuits: Do You Have a Case?

Depo-Provera is an injectable birth control that has been popular among women as an effective method to prevent pregnancy without having to take daily birth control pills. However, recent studies have indicated a link between Depo-Provera use and serious diseases like brain tumors, meningioma, and osteoporosis. We are now taking Depo-Provera lawsuit cases and will help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries due to extended Depo-Provera use.

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