Estate Planning: When Do I Update My Will?

When Do I Update My Will?

BY MARY CAMPBELL

Awill is your ironclad way to disperse your assets to loved ones as you wish. Here are a few of the top reasons you may need to update this important document:

Change in Marital Status If you get married after a will is already in place, it’s important to update your beneficiaries to include a spouse. Most states have laws in place where a spouse will receive the estate if you die without a will, but the process can be more difficult and lengthier. A divorce would be another change in marital status that requires a will to be doctored. You will need to address their status as beneficiary, estate executor and sometimes as guardian to your children. If you have remarried but have children from a previous marriage, you can also update your document to include the kids and new spouse. A financial advisor is a great resource who can help you create a strategy to leave behind something for everyone.

Changes in Financial Situation There may come a time where you decide to increase or decrease the inheritance you are leaving behind for loved ones. For instance, if you receive a large sum of money, it’s possible to alter your will to add a new beneficiary or make an increase towards those currently on your list. On the other hand, if you experience financial misfortune, it’s necessary to adjust the document to pay out less and ensure your estate’s obligations can still be met.

Changes in Tax Laws It can be hard to stay up-to-date on constantly changing tax laws, but it’s necessary to keep your final document in good legal standing. Especially if your will takes actions to address estate tax issues, it’s a good idea to receive periodic reviews by an attorney.

Ask for Advice Don’t be afraid to ask your legal expert, the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates (www.askthelawyer.us) or call 855-7688845 for advice on other moments that may benefit your last will and testament. Remember, this document is incredibly important to keep accurate, as it articulates your vision and solidifies your legacy.l A Pandemic Lession/ continued from page 19 •A review of your medical and family history •Development or updating of a list of current providers and prescriptions •Height, weight, blood pressure and other routine measurements • Detection of any cognitive impairment • Personalized health advice •Assessment of risk factors and treatment options • Advance care planning • A schedule or checklist for appropriate preventive services, such as screenings and vaccines There’s no need to worry if you didn’t see your doctor in the past year. I’m sure they’d be happy to hear from you and work to keep you healthy. So, call your doctor or health care provider today to schedule an appointment, and ask whether you are eligible to schedule a Medicare annual wellness visit. As the nation begins to move past the highest case numbers and mortality of the COVID-19 era, the health care system and patients need to focus on optimizing health.l

Laurie Archbald-Pannone is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Virginia

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HEALTH

21 Cholera’s Resurgence in Haiti a Reminder of How Quickly Diseases Spread

Washington D.C: The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, said the recent cholera outbreak in Haiti, a steady increase in monkeypox cases, ongoing COVID-19 infections and low polio vaccination rates heighten the need for health emergency preparedness in the region of the Americas. “Parallel health emergencies and fragile social, political and natural environments illustrate the importance of investing in and strengthening health systems,” the Director said during a media briefing. “We do not have the time to recover and prepare between health crises,” she added. After more than three years, Haiti last week reported a cholera outbreak just as the country was on the verge of being declared cholera-free. As of October 9, national authorities confirmed 32 cases and 18 deaths, as well as over 260 suspected cases in the area surrounding the capital Port-auPrince. “Cholera has arrived amid serious ongoing social and political unrest,” Dr. Etienne said, which “complicate efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and to respond the outbreak.” She added that cases are likely much higher than reported numbers, as escalating street violence and criminal activity limit access to the affected areas. PAHO is supporting Haitian authorities and international partners in setting up cholera treatment centers. The Organization has donated two tons of medical supplies and is assisting the Ministry of Health in surveillance efforts and in the management of cases. “We also stand ready to help the government quickly access vaccines supplies,” the PAHO Director added. Turning to monkeypox, Dr. Etienne said that the Americas now report over 45,000 cases, accounting for 63% of the global total. Around 95% of these are among men. And while the spread of the virus seems to be slowing down, more than 2,300 new monkeypox cases were reported in the Americas last week – the majority in the United States, but hundreds also in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. PAHO has started to deliver monkeypox vaccines in the region, Dr. Etienne said, with Brazil and Chile being the first countries among those that requested doses receiving a first batch last week. “We know how to track this disease. We know who is most at risk. And we know how to keep people safe from infection,” Dr. Etienne said, urging countries to use this knowledge to drive down cases and end monkeypox transmission. The PAHO Director said falling COVID-19 trends globally, including in the Americas, show “we may be transitioning from the acute phase of the pandemic into a phase of sustained control.” But she warned this will only be possible with continued testing and increased vaccination. Just last week, the Americas reported 178,000 new COVID-19 cases. While over 70% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have now been fully vaccinated against the virus, many countries remain short of that target, with 10 countries and territories yet to reach the 40% mark. The Director also made a renewed call for countries to act on polio by increasing vaccination coverage and surveillance. She said four countries in the region Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Peru—are at “very high risk” of polio transmission, and another eight being considered high risk. Polio, a disease for which there is no cure or treatment, must stay in the past, Dr. Etienne urged. “With effective vaccines and decades of immunization experience, we have the power to keep it there.” “Our Region is under pressure,” the PAHO Director concluded. “We must work quickly with the tools we have at hand to control these four health emergencies unfolding in the Americas.” l

The boosters are stronger now.

The latest COVID-19 boosters protect against the omicron variants. All New Yorkers 5 years and older should get a new bivalent COVID-19 booster today. To learn more, visit nyc.gov/vaccine昀nder or call 877-VAX-4NYC.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

22 Head-On Collisions: The Deadliest Crashes

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

Ahead-on collision happens so quickly that there isn't any time to try and avoid the impact. Maybe the other driver was talking or texting on a cell phone and took their eyes off of the road. Maybe they were intoxicated, on drugs, or both. Maybe the other driver simply fell asleep at the wheel. One thing is certain, though, and that's the fact that head-on collisions cause severe injuries or fatalities.

Hitting a Brick Wall at 100 MPH When two cars traveling in opposite directions at 50 mph collide, it's like hitting a 12-inch wide-concrete wall at 100 mph. That's more than enough force to buckle and frighteningly misshape the front end of a passenger car. Mechanical parts from under the hood are forcefully and violently thrown into the passenger compartment through the car's firewall, causing multiple life-threatening personal injuries or even death. Shrapnel-like glass shards from the windshield fly towards victims at a high velocity and often cause deep facial lacerations.

Improvements in Crashworthiness About 50 years ago, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration concluded that head-on

Editorial credit: TFoxFoto / Shutterstock.com

crashes resulted in more fatalities than any other motor vehicle crash configuration. Tests with crash dummies revealed front-end crashworthiness at poor to marginal levels. That led to the implementation of safety regulations that were targeted at head-on collision crashworthiness improvement. As a result, the safety features of all new cars on the road were enhanced. Those crashworthiness studies fostered the development of seat safety harnesses and airbags.

Head-On Overlap Collisions When a head-on overlap collision occurs, the force of the crash is applied outward from a vehicle's longitudinal frame. For example, the left front of an oncoming vehicle that crossed the center line of the road might impact the left front of your vehicle. These types of crashes account for a significant percentage of all headon collisions. They also account for a significant percentage of head-on collisions with severe injuries. Occupant protection is decreased in these types of crashes because impacts a few feet from the center of the vehicles don't trigger a car's full front-end protective system. As a result, displacement and ejection of automobile parts and components can still lead to serious injuries to one or both lower extremities.

Other Common Head-On Collision Injuries Aside from lower extremity injuries, other serious trauma can occur in a headon crash. They can include but not be limited to the following: •Closed or open brain injuries •Neck and spinal cord injuries •Facial and dental injuries and disfigurement •Multiple fractures above the waist. •Damage to vital organs with internal bleeding •Wrongful death

The Importance of Wearing a Seat Belt The chances of severe injuries or death increase drastically when the occupant of a car that is involved in a head-on collision fails to wear a seat belt. If a driver or passenger is unsecured, the likelihood of an impact causing ejection from the vehicle increases substantially.

Legal Help If you were seriously injured in a headon collision, or if you lost a loved one in such a crash, you'll want to arrange for a consultation with an experienced and effective car accident lawyer. If you were seriously injured in a head-on collision, or if you lost a loved one in such a crash, you'll want to arrange for a consultation with an experienced and effective car accident lawyer, like the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates (www.askthelawyer.us) or by calling 855-7688845. Remember there is a statute of limitations on car accident cases. Preserve and protect your rights by getting that consultation as soon as you can.l