By Zach Bloxham, JD, and Stefanie Dion Jones

Various public benefit programs are available to individuals living with disabilities and other challenges. These programs have their fair share of acronyms, which can confuse those relatively new to elder law or special needs planning—be they attorneys, beneficiaries, or loved ones. 

This primer offers basic information about some common types of public benefits and can serve as an at-a-glance glossary of acronyms commonly used within the practice.

From a new SECURE final rule on required minimum distributions to new developments regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s Non-Compete Rule, we have recently seen significant legal developments. To ensure that you stay abreast of these changes, we have highlighted some noteworthy developments and analyzed how they may impact your estate planning, elder and special needs law, and business law practices.

By Phoebe Stone, JD, MA (Bioethics)

Young people who have recently reached the age of majority may not yet be established financially or professionally, and many may be immature and naive. In the eyes of the law, however, they are considered adults. Adulthood, often marked by the 18th birthday, can represent a huge shift in family dynamics. It is a significant milestone in the social and emotional life of a family because adulthood represents independence. It is often the age when children move away from home to pursue postsecondary education (i.e., anything after high school) or live apart from their families for the first time. Departure for college and/or reaching the age of majority are also legally significant milestones because when these events occur in the lives of young adults, they become responsible for many of their own financial and healthcare decisions. Young adults who have reached the age of majority are protected by various privacy laws in areas where parents or guardians were once responsible for making decisions for them and were granted open access to information.