BLOG FOR JOHN SWEENEY - ELDER, WILLS, ESTATES, TRUSTS, SPECIAL NEEDS, BUSINESS, & TAX LAWYER IN CT AND NY

What are Special Needs Trusts? Under means-tested benefit programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disabled people can only qualify for benefits if they have no more than about $2,000 in countable assets. Special needs trusts allow disabled people […]

So how much will you get from Social Security when you retire and how much does it change if you retire early (62) or delay payments till late (70)?  Well in 2017 the average monthly Social Security payment was $1,360.  […]

Bottom line, you will use your Social Security and it will be meaningful to you. However, it was not designed to be your primary source of income in retirement.  Your average life expectancy at 65 is about 20 years, longer […]

Connecticut is an expensive place to die.  First, you have an estate tax that starts at $2M.  The federal exemption and most other states start at $5M +.  Second, the estate tax ranges up to 12%.  Then, it has a […]

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on why a parent or a grand parent would want to contribute to a child’s retirement plan right after they got out of college.  This is a technique not often mentioned that has a […]

The New York Times just published an article entitled, “The Ethics of Adjusting Your Assets to Qualify for Medicaid” and they ask a very relevant question. Is it ethical to arrange your financial affairs so you qualify for Medicaid?  After […]

If you don’t have a Power of Attorney, someone will have to be appointed guardian or conservator in order to manage your affairs. This can be a costly and contentious proceeding. The New York Times has a great article today on problems […]

John is a practical and knowledgeable lawyer. He takes the time to listen to you and understand your problems. He knows the law and is also a businessman. He came up with practical solutions, which solved any concerns or problems I had. He is also fast and efficient which translated into a reasonable price. I recommend him highly.

John has handled multiple business issues for me with great results. He also wrote Wills for my friends. In addition to being a good lawyer and knowledgeable businessman, John cares about people and is compassionate and empathetic. He is fast, efficient, and reasonably priced. I'd recommend him for any Estate, Will, Elder or business issue.

I hired John to review a fairly complex matter related to my business. He demonstrated a clear understanding of the issues and helped me quickly navigate through the situation. He's smart, efficient and a pleasure to work with.