Thankfully, a VA Pension claim does not die with the claimant…for the most part.  The VA has finally published a final rule on the concept of “Substitution” which allows an eligible surviving family member to stand in the shoes of the deceased claimant and finish a pending claim. The rule has been in the United States Code for several years, but regulations had not yet been passed. See 38 U.S.C. §5121A.
 
When formally published in the Code of Federal Regulations the Substitution regulations will be located at 38 CFR §3.1010.  The final rule has an effective date of October 6, 2014.

We all recognize the value of referral sources and the role they play in helping to advance an estate planning professional’s legal marketing efforts ad business. All referral sources, however, are not created equal. While one may readily refer, another may be detached or disengaged. If you’ve invested the time and energy in building your network but are less than satisfied with the results, here are some practical steps you can take to improve your referral quotient.

When it comes to taxes I’m a simple guy with pretty straightforward filing needs. When a tax question does arise, I follow the old motto: “If you don’t know your jewels, know your jeweler.” That’s when I turn to a CPA or other trusted tax professional.