When people think about putting their affairs in order they typically sit down with an attorney to put together a Will or Trust. But for many people that isn’t enough. They also want to make sure their funeral arrangements are set ahead of time. Prepaid funerals have become a popular alternative, but before you put down any money with a funeral home you need to know what to look out for. Pre-Paid Funeral Arrangements (sometimes called “Pre-Need Funeral Arrangements”) can be a good planning tool if you want to make sure things go the way you want them to or if you want to save your family from having to make major decisions during what is sure to be a stressful time. You also can lock in the cost of these arrangements now. But while the concept of pre-paid funeral arrangements is a good one, it doesn’t come without some serious legal considerations.
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A few years ago, the HIPAA Privacy Rule went into effect to address people’s growing concern about personal medical records becoming public information. But what you may not realize is that even with the laws currently in existence; your “private medical business” can be legally accessed by hundreds of strangers.
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If you’re thinking that your personal and financial information is being kept private by the companies you do business with, you may need to think again. You may not realize it, but certain information can be shared, sold or traded unless you take action! Make sure know who you are doing business with and what their particular policies are when it comes to your personal information!
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In today’s real estate market, putting your house up for sale is a big move, but knowing the legal ins and outs can bring the deal home. Before you decide to jump into the real estate market, take time to interview brokers. When you hire a broker you are entering into a contract that will most likely give them the exclusive right to sell your house – so you want to make sure they are qualified, have experience with your type of property, and are cutting you a competitive deal. Shop around, ask questions and don’t be afraid to negotiate. There are different types of representation a broker can provide so make sure you get a disclosure in writing.
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It’s all over the news. Some of the nations’ biggest mortgage lenders are in financial trouble, and if you are like many people you’re concerned that trouble is about to come knocking on your front door! A recent survey* found that over a third of all homeowners have no idea what type of mortgage they have, and that many are worried about being able to make their payments within the next year. So how do you make sure you are on solid ground?
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