May Someone With Dementia Sign a Will?

Q.  My husband and I would like to make wills, but I am concerned because he has been diagnosed with early-stage dementia. Legally, can he still make a will? A.  It depends, but very often the answer would be yes. Under the law, he must have what is called “testamentary capacity”. This means that at… Read More »

The Quiet Devastation of Alzheimer’s Disease

According to a recent report put out by the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.3 million people have Alzheimer’s disease.  Chances are that you or someone you know has been touched by this illness.  In spite of these overwhelming statistics, Alzheimer’s continues to be a disease that sneaks up on individuals and their families, quietly tearing apart lives… Read More »

The Question of Competence

One of the things estate planning attorneys have to deal with in their line of work (most often with elderly clients) is the question of whether or not a client is competent to sign their legal documents. Every principal (or person executing the documents) must be competent, and most attorneys—most people—can make this assessment based… Read More »