Nothing makes me angrier than people trying to scam other people.  The latest scam has hit two of my clients in the last week.  Both received an official looking envelope with correspondence inside entitled Local Records Office.

The rather official looking documentation requests $89.00 to be sent in to receive a copy of their latest filed deed.  Only if you turn the document over do you see in very small print the words “not affiliated with any State or the United States or the County Records”. However the disclaimer is small and not very noticeable, so my clients could have easily complied with the request. Luckily, they called us first.

This so called service is really not a service that you need.  You can get a copy of your deed by requesting it from the recorder’s office.  However in most instances, you already have the document in your possession.  In my client’s cases, I had just recorded deeds for them, so I would have sent them the same document free of charge.

It is appalling to send out such forms, which look so official that most people would pay the charge without realizing that it is unnecessary.  The company apparently has just enough disclaimer language in the form to avoid prosecution and they do offer a service, although you could easily obtain the deed yourself and save your money.

All we can do is get the word out to try and help prevent people from being taken advantage of by this scam.  For every official looking form you receive, be cautions, check the back of the form for fine print. It can also be helpful to do a search on the name of the agency sending the information. When you type Local Records Office into google, you get a list of articles about the scam.

* The information contained in this Blog is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion of counsel.

Hospice is a practice of specialized care for individuals nearing the end of life. But it is not just for the last few days. In fact, Medicare pays for months of free services to patients and their families. For instance:

• Do you wish you had help with bathing your loved one?
• Are you worried about keeping your relative comfortable and out of pain or suffering?
• Do you wish you had 24/7 access to medical advice?

Hospice offers these services and more. Its goal is to support the patient and family emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

With hospice care, your relative receives regular home visits from

• a nurse who comes to manage pain, nausea, and other uncomfortable symptoms;
• a social worker with advice about local programs to help with special needs;
• a trained volunteer who can stay with your relative once a week so you can have a needed 2-3 hours off.

Such services are free to persons on Medicare who meet these eligibility requirements:

• An incurable condition
• A doctor’s assessment that the patient is not likely to live longer than six months
• Willingness to let go of curative treatment

With an emphasis on quality of life, hospice is the choice for patients who would rather enjoy the time they have left than continue with repeated hospitalizations and ER visits.  It’s also good for patients who are tired of dealing with the side effects of treatment that offers only a slim chance of recovery.

If you think your loved one could benefit from hospice care, ask the doctor a simple question: “Would you be surprised if [your relative] were to die in the next year?” If the doctor says “no,” then it’s wise to talk about if/when hospice would be a good choice.  In hindsight, many families say they wish they had signed up sooner.

To learn more about hospice click here.

* The information contained in this Blog is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion of counsel.