Elder law isn’t exactly the hot legal topic of the moment, but we’ll still share some of the month’s developments anyway. The June review: Aging in America National Geographic and AARP paired up to do a major study of America’s attitudes toward aging. They covered six areas: health, money, happiness, relationships, life stages, and end of life. The result? “Overall, the message was refreshingly positive and reassuring. On the whole, life is good, especially for older Americans.” And, “the people

Is modification of a special needs trust possible? Even if the trust is irrevocable, and its terms are clear? The short answer is "yes" -- at least in some circumstances. A recent Texas Supreme Court case illuminates the principles. And the story is pretty interesting, to boot. "Dick" Poe was a prominent businessman from El Paso, Texas. He owned several auto dealerships and a number of parcels of commercial real estate. One of his two sons -- Troy S. Poe

The New York Times is wrong. In a recent “Social Q’s” column, a reader asked for inheritance advice. The response was off the mark. (For the purposes of this article, we’ll call the questioner “Reader.” And though the column didn’t reveal Reader’s gender, for easy identification, we’ll assume Reader is female.) Reader describes the circumstances: She and her sibling, a brother, are around 50 years old. Reader is single, and has no children. Her brother is married with three kids

Can a beneficiary deed challenge be based  on alleged undue influence? Yes, in the same way that a will, a trust, or another writing could be challenged. A recent Arizona appellate decision spelled out some of the rules and details. But what is a beneficiary deed? First, a little introduction. Arizona is one of the 60% (or so) of states in which you can sign a deed that becomes effective on your death. Some states call them "TOD" (Transfer on