|
|
|
|
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.18.10 under CAR ACCIDENTS, CHILDREN, Power of Attorney, SAFETY, Uncategorized, WILLS AND ESTATES
Every parent has had at least one person say “they grow up before you know it”. This is true in many ways. Very few people would say an 18 year old is an adult. However, for purposes of Florida law they are an adult. More importantly, the parent no longer has the right to any information about the child– even if they still live at home. If your child is hurt in an accident, the parent has no right to information and no right to participate in any decision regarding the child.
The only way a parent can assist the child is if the child has executed powers of attorney. No one wants to think of their child being hurt or incapacitated, but preparation is the best you can do for your child. Every person over age 18, regardless of financial circumstances, needs a durable power of attorney and medical power of attorney. With Summer at the doorstep and kids heading off to school and jobs (often out of state), the time to act is now.
Tracy Troutman Cheek at Billings, Morgan & Boatwright offers a special Power of Attorney package for young adults that costs only $100. Call Tracy at 407-679-9900 for an appointment.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.18.10 under Uncategorized
What happens to online accounts when you die? As we move toward a paperless society with the majority (or all) of our accounts online, accessing these accounts after someone dies can be a nightmare.
For example, a soldier may die on the battlefield and the family wants to place a posting on the soldier’s facebook. This is impossible without the appropriate passwords. There are two new websites that allow you to post your passwords and make them available to “beneficiaries” after death. These sites provide a level of service for free. However, be aware that websites can come and go. In addition, the site could be subject to “hacking” and your passwords compromised.
No matter what you choose, having a list of your accounts and vital information is essential to any estate plan. A will does not generally include a listing of your accounts and, without a list, assets can fall through the cracks. For more information on the online accounts to disclose passwords, please see Entrustet.com and LegacyLocker.com.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.04.10 under Uncategorized
With summertime rapidly approaching and temperatures back in the nineties, now is a good time to review safe practices for the Summer. Most people are familiar with applying sunscreen, but heat-related illnesses are a major concern. The Centers for Disease Control estimates 300 people die annually due to excessive heat exposure.
The American Red Cross offers the following tips to avoid heat-related illness:
* Change your activity level according to the heat.
* Take frequent breaks.
* Dress appropriately for the environment.
* Drink large amounts of fluids before, during, and after activity.
The best fluid to drink before, during, and after activity is water. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that sports drinks often contain unhealthy amounts of sugar and caffeine. For more information, please consult: www.cdc.gov
[ No Comments ] Posted on 03.25.10 under Uncategorized
Everyone is familar with the alleged problems of certain Toyota automobiles. However, there are hundreds of recalls on products that go unnoticed by the public. Too often people do not return warranty cards on products or the product is not of a type where one would have a warranty card. Fortunately, there is a website that lists recalls of products. Below is the link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html.
Recent recalls of infant items include baby slings by Infantino, high chairs by Graco and Cybex strollers. Recalls are not limited to infants and children. It is not unusual to have forty or more recalls in a month. Be aware and stay safe.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 10.28.09 under ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES, CAR ACCIDENTS, MOTORCYCLES, Uncategorized
The experience of an auto accident stays with an individual throughout their life. The majority of people believe they are fine as long as they did not suffer a cut or broken bone. They fail to associate emotions of fear, nervousness or anger with the automobile accident. However, this is a common and often overlooked problem known as Post-traumatic Stress.
If these problems begin to interfere with your normal life, seek professional help. For more on this condition, see
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/anxiety/449.html.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 10.14.09 under Uncategorized
It is important for each individual to be well informed as to the consequences of any medical procedure they receive. Prior to the test, you should ask about possible side effects or injury. Even the most basic of procedures, such as an X-ray or CTscan may have side effects.
Recently it has come to light that a major hospital in Los Angeles was performing CT scans that resulted in patients receiving eight times the regular dose of radiation. The hospital did not detect the incorrect setting for eighteen months. More disturbing is the fact that this problem may not be isolated to this one facility.
The moral of this story is to be proactive and ask questions. Your health is at risk. To read more about this problem see: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/13309 .
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.21.09 under Uncategorized
Mary Ann Morgan recently hosted a dinner for twelve women attorneys at her newly renovated ‘green’ home, extending the traditional “Table For Eight” program to seat additional attendees. Ms. Morgan’s newly renovated home has received the first Platinum Certification in the State of Florida for green building (energy efficient) compliance.
The Table for Eight program was Mary Ann’s brain child nearly four years ago, when she had a desire to bring women in the practice of law together in an informal setting without an agenda.
“The purpose behind the Program was not to ‘network’ but to ‘netweave’ relationships. Just envision a tapestry where women of different backgrounds, ages, faiths and ideas represent the threads. It brings women who have been attorneys for a little as one day to as many as forty years together to share ideas about law, the community, their families, their dreams,” says Morgan.
The program has taken off within the Central Fla Assoc for Women Lawyers and has now spread to other women’s organizations throughout the state.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.16.09 under Uncategorized
Mary Ann Morgan has been selected for the 2009 edition of LAWDRAGON ‘s “500 Better Than The Best”. Lawdragon selects the leading lawyers from around the nation by soliciting information from hundreds of thousands of attorneys, clients and judges to find the best lawyers from around the country.
Inclusion in the leading lawyers is a tremendous honor as the attorneys are neither permitted nor required to pay a fee to be listed. As LAWDRAGON states, “The greatest lawyers and judges endure; they have passion and magic. They make us think, they help us believe.”
To view the article in its entirety, see http://www.lawdragon.com
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.09.09 under ABOUT THE LAWYERS, Uncategorized
Mary Ann Morgan has been chosen to serve on the Florida Bar Board of Governors. The Florida Bar Board of Governors has exclusive authority to formulate and adopt matters of policy concerning the activities of the Bar and is subject only to limitations imposed by the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The Board selects the executive director of the Bar, who devotes full-time to directing the overall administration of The Florida Bar. Committees and sections or members of the Bar may submit topics to the president for inclusion on the agenda for Board meetings which are held bimonthly. All Board members serve without pay.
At the May 2009 meeting the Board approved new rules for the Clients’ Security Fund program. This fund increased the maximum amount available for reimbursement when a lawyer misappropriates from a client from $50,000 to $250,000. The Board approved other rules promoting ethics and professionalism.
Mary Ann Morgan is pleased to help lead the Florida Bar and promote the highest standards of professionalism for all clients
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.01.09 under CAR ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized
Did you know that your own insurer may deny you benefits after an auto accident where the insurer receives a medical report that is more than 30 days after notice of a claim? Your insurer may challenge treatment at any time on the basis that the treatment is unreasonable or not related to the accident. For more information, see http://www.floridalawweekly.com/newsystem/showfile.php?file=../files/issues/vol34/dca/913c.htm