Legal Matters
Brought to you by: Community Partner Bradford & Holliman
As your family enjoys July 4th, give some appreciative thought to the 377,210 veterans and their families who live around you here in Alabama. Alabama has 1,713 military personnel who have served in post-9/11 wars which ranks 7th highest per capita in the nation.
The Veterans Administration and several non-profit and volunteer organizations work to take care of these special individuals who have served our country. However, VA-accredited Alabama elder law attorneys can offer a more comprehensive understanding of Alabama’s specific nuances in both estate planning and asset protection as well as VA benefits than out-of-state resources.
These attorneys develop strategies for veterans considering their veteran benefits and any civilian work benefits both while the veterans are alive (Disability Benefits) and for their families after they are gone (Aid and Attendance). VA-accredited Alabama elder law attorneys can also assess veteran benefits in the context of long-term care, Alabama Medicaid, asset protection, guardianships, conservatorships, wills, and various kinds of trusts that are beyond the scope of VA benefits.
A good understanding of both pension and service-connected claims and Department of Defense benefits is needed to make the best choices at the right times for a veteran. Sometimes, a non-service-connected pension is a better choice. Without knowledgeable advice of CRSC (Combat-Related Special Compensation) and CRDC (Concurrent Retirement and Disability) payments, a veteran can lose out on benefits. Many veterans are eligible for Tricare for Life or CHAMPVA health insurance that provides important free health coverage.
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC) is best known for the benefits for veterans’ surviving spouses and children, but it may also apply to a parent based on the VA’s special definition of a parent which includes loco parentis. It is easy to miss these options without VA-accredited legal advice.
As your family enjoys hot dogs and fireworks this month, give a salute to the veterans around you who have defended our country in so many ways for so many years. And if you are a veteran or a veteran’s family, thank you for your service and talk to a VA-accredited elder law attorney about your VA benefit options soon.
-Melanie B. Holliman, JD
Partner at Bradford & Holliman
Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs
205-663-0281
www.bradfordholliman.com
No representation is made that the quality of the legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of service performed by other lawyers.
