Legal-Ease: Key steps for agriculture-involved LLCs and trusts

Agriculture-involved LLCs and trusts require certain key steps that aren’t necessarily included in other LLCs and trusts. Omitting these keys steps can be fatal to the LLC or trust’s operation. 

While some law firms do take these key steps for agriculture-involved LLCs and trusts, not all do. Don’t assume the steps are being taken unless your lawyer explicitly tells you that they are. 

Legal-Ease: Powers of attorney and personal liability

Two primary rules apply to all powers of attorney, also called POAs. First, an agent under a power of attorney can only do what the POA explicitly allows the agent to do. Second, an agent under a power of attorney must always do what the principal wants as long as the agent is aware of the principal’s wishes. 

Legal-Ease: Should I worry about my sibling being executor for my parents?

The concern regarding a sibling being executor of a parent’s will generally arises in multi-children families. Sometimes families get concerned that one sibling as executor might rewrite the will in order to benefit themselves more. 

Being an executor is designed to be an administrative task, which means that the executor of a will has little to no discretion. The role of the executor is to simply carry out the task of asset distribution on behalf of the deceased. 

Legal-Ease: What is a real estate closing?

A real estate closing is typical a literal meeting during which ownership of property changes hands from the seller to the buyer. A closing will usually take place a few weeks after the buyer and seller make an agreement to transfer ownership of the property. Once preliminary work is completed, the buyer’s attorney or title agent will schedule the final closing usually. 

While the process is common, closings are very important and do require certain steps from the buyer and seller. 

Legal-Ease: Nursing homes and the five-year lookback

The government healthcare program that pays for nursing home care for those who can’t afford it is commonly called “institutional Medicaid.” Poverty is defined by both federal and Ohio law. 

While there are many requirements surrounding eligibility for institutional Medicaid, the most challenging one is typically that the applicant must have a financial net worth of less than $2,000. The applicant also could not have given anything away in the five years before applying in order to qualify. Lee explains the application of the five-year lookback rule and how it can be applied when attempting to become Medicaid-eligible. 

Legal-Ease: How to administer a loved one’s estate

Even when well-planned, estate administration is not entirely automatic. Technically, when someone dies, ownership of their assets is automatically transferred to one or more people. However, until the paperwork memorializing the transfers is finished, the new owner cannot exercise the attributes of ownership. 

Legal-Ease: Four estate planning structures to consider

Estate planning can be difficult since it involves looking ahead and deciding where we want our assets to go when we die. While every situation in estate planning is different, there are four main structures to consider. 

First, some people use an “everybody equal” structure. Second, some people use a structure called “equal opportunity.” Third, others use a “who needs it most” structure when estate planning. Finally, some people use a “this one helped me most” structure. 

Legal-Ease: Alternative energy leases

Lee asks people to consider seven different aspects when considering a potential alternative energy lease. 

First, recognize that these leases can be confusing, so it’s important to seek help from a professional. Second, be sure that the lease specifies the geographic scope. Third, understand the periods of time that are included in the lease. 

Legal-Ease: What exactly is a reverse mortgage?

To understand how reverse mortgages work, it’s important to understand traditional mortgages. Traditional mortgages create a legal right to possess real estate if the promise to pay for the real estate is not fulfilled. The written permission to acquire a home if the lender is not repaid is a traditional mortgage. 

A reverse mortgage is an agreement in which the lender agrees to pay a borrower a certain lump sum of money or a certain amount of money every month. In the meantime, the borrower can continue to live in his or her home. 

Legal-Ease: Ohio bicycle laws

While many of Ohio’s laws concerning roadways apply to bicycles, there are some laws interpreted differently for bicycles and some laws that are specific to bicycles only. Bicycles aren’t allowed on all Ohio roadways, including freeways. Bicycles must be operated at safe speeds based on the context of the road and other traffic. There are several other laws that bicyclists should keep in mind while on Ohio’s roadways.