The Farr Law Firm is  Proud to Announce our Recent Recognitions :

Evan Farr was recently featured in Newsweek Magazine, the second-largest weekly news magazine in the U.S.

Evan was listed as  a “Nationwide Top Attorney”  as part of the magazine’s “Nationwide Top Attorneys 2011 Showcase,” a special advertising section.  The Nationwide Top Attorneys Showcase can be found in the December 26, 2011/January 2, 2012 issue.

This is the second time that Evan Farr has appeared in Newsweek Magazine.  In the December 28, 2009/January 4, 2010 issue of Newsweek, Evan was listed in the  ”Best of D.C. Area Lawyers” special advertising section.

About the Farr Law Firm

Using a holistic and often proprietary approach, our firm uses a vast knowledge, understanding, and deep respect of the elderly to help our elderly clients obtain the highest quality care at the lowest possible cost, which typically involves protecting assets in order to become eligible to have Medicaid and/or Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits pay for the appropriate level of care — be it home health care, assisted living care, or nursing home care.

Unfortunately, Medicaid eligibility rules are the most complex and confusing maze of legal rules in existence.  The United States Supreme Court has called the Medicaid laws “an aggravated assault on the English language, resistant to attempts to understand it.” and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has called the Medicaid Act one of the “most completely impenetrable texts within human experience” and “dense reading of the most tortuous kind.” Veteran’s Aid and Attendance rules are likewise also exceedingly complicated and often treacherous to navigate.

Let Evan Farr and the Farr Law Firm provide you with expert and experienced asset protection planning and in-depth representation in connection with Medicaid and Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits, so you don’t wind up possible spending your entire life savings on long-term care, unnecessarily jeopardizing your future care and well-being, as well as the financial security of your family.

Upcoming Seminar

We are conducting a completely free, no obligation seminar this month.  Please be sure to RSVP before we reach maximum capacity!

Evan Farr and the Farr Law Firm is conducting another of its’ wildly popular seminars next week.  You do not want to miss this free event!

December 10: Living Trust Plus Seminar: How to Protect Your Assets from the Expenses of Probate and Long Term Care

Date: Dec 10, 2011

Location: The Stacy Sherwood Community Center 3740 Old Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22030 703-385-7858

(call 703-691-1888 to RSVP)

Description
Learn: Should you have a Living Trust or just a Will? How can a Living Trust transfer your assets to your family quicker than a Will, with no probate, no probate tax, and no estate tax? How a Living Trust can protect both you AND your children. Can a Living Trust protect your assets if you get sick or have to go into a Nursing Home? Why you should have an Advance Care Plan in addition to your Living Trust. Why you should have a maintenance plan for your Living Trust. Why some Living Trusts are much better than others.

Busy on December 10th?  That’s ok!  We also conduct seminars right here, in our office!  Here is our upcoming schedule (RSVP ASAP!  These seminars are FREE, but when they are FULL, they are FULL)! If you just want to make an appointment or attend the next available seminar, you can call us right away at 703-691-1888.

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As the number of family members providing care for aging parents increases, the solutions to find help with loss of income because of time off from employment for caregiving has become a major concern for many.

The demands on both the time and energy needed to provide the needed care can make it impossible to maintain both a full time job with full time caregiving.

Seeing a need to give support to family caregivers the federal government Administration on Aging created the National Family Caregiver Support Program.

State Area on Aging division manages this program on the state and community level to offer support services that include:

• Information to caregivers about available services;
• Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to supportive services;
• Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their roles;
• Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their care giving responsibilities; and
• Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.

Medicaid Cash & Counseling Program

A Medicaid approved assistance program called Cash & Counseling may be used to provide funds to hire personal care aides as well as purchase items or services, including home modifications that help them live independently.

The PayingForSeniorCare.com website gives the following information about the program:

“For Medicaid eligible seniors, the process begins with an assessment in the home to determine the senior’s home care needs; this includes interviews with caregivers and possibly the senior’s physicians. A determination of how many monthly care hours are required is made. The benefit amount is calculated using that determination and cost of care for that geographic area. This amount can be increased or decreased as the senior’s needs change. A family care giver may need to qualify as a home health aid by the state to receive these funds.”

This program is executed by each individual state Area on Aging Services division. It is a relatively new program and is not yet available in all States. Check with your state Area on Aging Services department for availability.

Using the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit

A totally overlooked source of money to pay family caregivers to provide care at home is the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. This money is available to veterans who served during a period of war. Pension money is also available to the widows of these veterans. This benefit, under the right circumstances, can provide up to $1,949 a month in additional income to pay family members to provide care at home.

Getting the aid and attendance benefit to pay for family caregivers is not an easy task. This is because there must be a caregiver contract in place, a physician medical evaluation done, income and asset qualifications met and proof of medical expenses provided.

Long Term Care Insurance Benefit

If the senior being cared for has a long term care insurance policy that covers home care, payment to the care giver from this source could be arranged. Some policies require the care provider to be through a licensed home car agency, but others will pay for individual aides certified as such. This would require some training by the family member to become certified. There are policies that pay a daily benefit amount to the insured to use as they want to pay for their care.

Caregiver Contract

In some cases the senior parent has the funds to pay for care. If a family member is giving care it is very important that a caregiver contract be in place. A signed and dated agreement will outline the services provided as well as the amount of pay for these services. The contract will eliminate questions about what is expected from both parent and caregiver as well as providing a legitimate contract and payment record of services to qualify for Medicaid.

The family member providing such care can not only save their loved one from needing nursing home services outside of the home, but also may protect assets in the event that long-term care is needed in the future. A Caregiver contract in writing is necessary.  Moreover if there is a family member providing the caregiving, it is legally treated like an employer/employee situation.  As you might expect, payroll records must be kept and appropriate taxes must be paid.

The Farr Law Firm is experienced in elder law issues including Caregiver contracts.  If you have been caring for a loved one, or have a loved one in need of imminent care, give us a call and find out if a Caregiver contract might be worth discussing  at an initial consultation.

It’s dominating most of the major news outlets right now as well as the minds of Americans across the country: the debt-ceiling crisis.

Three times I have tried to write this week’s article on the unfolding debt drama in Washington and all of the potential outcomes and consequences of such a crisis. Three times I’ve been forced to trash my work because the situation continues to change by the hour, rendering any form of observation or conjecture obsolete. The latest news says that a decision will be reached by Friday night, but I’m sure that as soon as I publish this that estimation will have changed as well.

If you’ve been following the situation as I have, you’ll know that House Speaker John Boehner was working overtime yesterday to collect Republican votes for his legislation, which would temporarily raise the debt -ceiling through the end of this year and call for another vote in January. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said that even if the bill passes, it will be dead on arrival to the Senate. I took a pause from writing my article yesterday afternoon after news arrived that the House would be voting on Boehner’s plan at 6:00 p.m. that evening, but as the afternoon of unsuccessful arm-twisting wore on, it was announced that the vote would be postponed. As of 1:00 p.m. this afternoon, Congress is still in talks and attempting negotiations. News reports across the Web are conflicting: Does Boehner have enough Republicans votes? If he tweaks his legislation to entice Democrats on board, will it alienate other Republicans? If the bill passes the House, will it truly die in the Senate? If so, then what? If it doesn’t, will it be vetoed by the President?

Speculation abounds that sometime on Friday (perhaps after the markets close) the Treasury will unveil a contingency plan if Congress cannot agree on a compromise by the August 2 deadline. The consequences of such a crisis are hard to pin down, but most agree that the United States risks losing its triple-A credit rating, and many bills stand to go unpaid–Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid among them. For those who rely solely or in part on these services as their source of income or assistance, this could be a huge blow.

I fully expect the situation to continue changing drastically and by the minute through the end of today and over the weekend, but I encourage everyone to remain calm until a resolution is reached. It would be fruitless for any of us to try to examine all the possible outcomes when so many variables keep changing, and there’s no need to cause alarm preemptively. But in the meantime, if you’d like to take action you can call, e-mail or use Twitter to tell your Congressman what YOU would like to see happen in Washington today.

Sources: Yahoo!News by Reuters Yahoo!News by TIME

Nothing says Fourth of July like beautiful weather, good food, and time spent with family and friends. We have been blessed with such gorgeous weather up here in the northern Virginia area, and I hope it continues to accommodate all of the Independence Day festivals, parades and celebrations with our loved-ones this weekend.

This Independence Day, we remember the men and women who took the brave leap of faith to establish this Nation.  We also remember and honor those who have fought to preserve our freedoms, principles, and the American way of life.  It is a day that we should take advantage of in order to remember those who have made these sacrifices, as well as a day to reflect on how we can help and serve these people by giving back.  Below, you will find a few tidbits of information you may find useful.  If you are a veteran, please be aware of a new property tax exemption in Virginia, and a useful article explaining how to receive a Veteran Mortgage Loan.  We also would like to invite you to attend our next seminar, and are extending a discount to veterans.

First, disabled veterans can now take advantage of a new property tax exemption in Virginia. Read our recent article on our National Blog or our Virginia Blog for more details.  Originally approved by voters in November 2010, this statute will positively affect an estimated 7,350 disabled veterans living in the state of Virginia, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For most people living in the city or suburbs this will be a sufficient and appreciated break.

Second, Veterans Today recently published an article; “How to Receive Veteran Mortgage Loans.” “Through a mandate, Veterans Affairs will guarantee a maximum of 25 percent of home loans up to just over $100,000 with a maximum loan amount of $417,000.”

Finally, if you haven’t attended one of our seminars and would like to attend this month, please be sure to RSVP soon.  Our next seminar will take place July 23^rd, and will be at the stunning Mason Inn and Conference Center.  We especially like this venue, as it is conveniently located off route 123 (Ox road), just before the City of Fairfax.  RSVP by clicking here, or you may call us at (703)-691-1888 and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.  We keep our seminars relatively short (about 90 minutes), so that you may enjoy your Saturday and grab a bite to eat at one of the many nearby restaurants afterwards.

To show our patriotism and appreciation, we here at the Farr Law Firm are now offering a 15% military discount to all active-duty and retired members of our armed forces, as a salute to you for continuing to make sacrifices to preserve the freedoms of our country.  Please be safe this Fourth of July and we hope to see you soon!

You could forget your mother’s birthday and she would probably let it slide – you might even evade scorn if you forgot her anniversary.  But good luck, my friend, if you forget Mother’s Day! In this special post, you will discover three unique gifts suited for three different budgets, plus a special gift from the Farr Law Firm that will enable you to give a gift of “peace of mind” AND a commitment of your own time.

There are countless ways to show your love and affection, and giving a gift is just one.  Nothing compares to a sincere and heartfelt expression of gratitude, but here are a few last-minute ideas if you are having a tough time thinking of how to pamper a mother in your life – whether she is your mother, daughter, sister, relative, or friend – one of these gifts is sure to please.

Tried and True: A Classic Spa Package
Price: Your Choice

With the advent of the internet, purchasing a last-minute gift has never been easier.  Spa and massage gift certificates have always been a favorite gift on Mother’s Day, so what makes it a unique gift in 2011?  Flexibility made possible by technology sets this gift apart this year.  Not only can you purchase a gift certificate online, but you can also use the internet to determine the closest or most conveniently located spa to your mother.  Moreover, if she has a favorite spa already, you can purchase a gift certificate without stepping foot outside of your home. See SpaFinder.com.  You will find many spas listed in the Northern Virginia area alone.  With SpaFinder, you can purchase a gift certificate redeemable at any one of 5,000 spas, and they never expire.

The Safe but Innovative Gift: Family Tree Photo Album
Price: About $80

Selected as a top pick this Mother’s Day by the editors at Gifts.com, this picture frame by Red Envelope is no ordinary picture frame.  It turns the family tree concept into a three-dimensional sculpture and is a unique way to display photos of family members.  This gift is available here, for just under $80.

For the Tech-Savvy Mother: Digital Recipe Reader
Price: About $200

If the mother in your life is a gadget collector and enjoys cooking, consider a digital recipe reading device.  “The Demy™ is the world’s first touchscreen, kitchen-safe digital recipe reader.”  This device can store up to 2,500 recipes.  It is touted as durable, and includes a host of unique features, such as a conversion tool for measurements, built-in timers, and a dictionary of ingredient substitutes for emergencies.  You can purchase this product from Barnes & Noble for less than $200.

Often times, the greatest gifts we give in life are intangible. These gifts are intangible because they represent love in a way that a piece of clothing or merchandise just can’t.  For example, your mother didn’t get paid a salary to raise you the right way, nor did she gain anything by instilling positive values in your life.  And likewise, the time you spend with your parents as an adult is perhaps the most important gift you can give. The best gifts come in forms of leadership, guidance and direction.

On May 21^st, 2011, we are holding a free seminar at The Mason Inn Conference Center, located in Fairfax, Virginia.  The seminar is meant to provide you and/or your loved ones with peace of mind.  From questions such as, “do I need to update my Will?” to “is there any way to protect my assets from long-term care expenses?” to, “are there government benefits I am currently missing out on, like Veterans Aid and Attendance or Medicaid?” this seminar is designed to educate and inspire you.

The seminar will last less than two hours, so we encourage you to take this opportunity to spend the day with your loved one.  The seminar will conclude just in time for you to have lunch at one of the many dining establishments in the heart of historic downtown Fairfax and the surrounding area.

Register for the seminar here.

So go ahead and pamper your mother this Mother’s Day.  She deserves it.  But don’t forget to tell her in your own words how much you appreciate her, and most of all, don’t forget to spend quality time with her!

Click Here for a Printer-Friendly Version of our Mother’s Day Gift Certificate

Image: worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The mind is like a parachute.  It doesn’t work unless it’s open.

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, ‘Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see my beauty.’

Then the second tree said, ‘Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.’

Finally the third tree said, ‘I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I want to be the greatest tree of all time, so that people will always remember me.’

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, ‘This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, ‘and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, ‘This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.’ The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, ‘I don’t need anything special from my tree, I’ll take this one,’ and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one night, a man and woman came to the barn.  She gave birth and they placed the baby in the feed box that was made from the first tree.   “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew that he was indeed holding a most precious treasure.

Years later, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat made from the second tree. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew that he was indeed carrying a mighty King.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands and feet to her.  She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.  But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that she would indeed always be remembered as one of greatest trees of all time.

The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you, not just here on Earth, but for all eternity. 

All three trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We may not know the mystery of God’s plans
But we can know that He cradles us in the palms of His hands
And we can trust in Him that His plans are the best
And we can know that, through Easter, our lives are blessed.
– E. F.

Easter Blessings from all of us at the Farr Law Firm.

As many of you know, the Farr Law Firm is experiencing a tremendous period of growth.  Over the past year, we nearly doubled our staff in order to best serve and accommodate our clients.  Today,  I am excited to announce that we will be physically expanding our office space.

If you have visited us in the past, you won’t have to worry about reprogramming your GPS, or traveling outside of Fairfax should you have occasion to visit us in the future.  We are remaining at our current location, conveniently located in the heart of the City of Fairfax, but will be expanding into the office space across the hall within the upcoming three to four months.

As part of this expansion, the Farr Law Firm is seeking a business tenant to utilize 983 square feet of this office space.  An ideal tenant would be a small elder law firm with the capacity to handle contested matters.

Another ideal tenant would be a complementary senior-serving service professional.  Examples include: CPA; Geriatric Care Manager; Geriatric Consultant; Daily Money Manager; Financial Service Professional; Senior Real Estate Specialist; Senior Move Manager; Elderly & Disabled Transportation Service; or Appraisal Service.  For more details, please click here.

We look forward to providing our clients and business partners with even more conference space, waiting rooms, and hospitality!

Struggling to make sense of the status of health care reform in America? Don’t worry; neither can Congress, the White House, nor the Courts say with certainty whether The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Act) will ultimately be considered successful legislation, whether it will be repealed, or if certain contested provisions are constitutional. The goal of this article is one of education and not political persuasion.

Last year, I discussed how the health reforms will help Medicare recipients and early retirees in my article entitled, Health Reform: Changes in Store for the Elderly.  This year, I want to briefly reiterate the most important 2011 changes.  As you may know, the sweeping health reform law passed last year is designed for long-term implementation.

Two Important 2011 Reforms for Seniors

There are two monumental changes worth mentioning briefly.  First, preventive services (including annual physicals and cancer screenings) will now be free for most beneficiaries, including people who enrolled in private plans as of last September.

Second, a 50% discount on brand-name medicines will be available for people in the Medicare Part D “donut hole.” Seniors on the Medicare Part D drug plan subject to the donut hole pay out-of-pocket when their annual drug costs are between $2,840 and $4,550.

Illustrating the likely unpopularity of health reform repeal, US News quoted Kenneth Thrope, Head of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University:

“If you do repeal the law, you’ll have to start charging people for preventive benefits.  You’ll have to increase what seniors pay for prescription drugs . . . . [n]either one of those would be very popular.”

My goal is not to convince my readers to support or oppose the Act, nor is my goal to explain it: consisting of over 1,000 pages of law and policy reform, it is becoming increasingly clear that top lawmakers do not even fully understand or agree on the law.  Instead, I seek to enlighten my readers on the law’s current status.  Paradoxically, the same principle that ensures Democracy in America is the source of the maddening confusion, delay, and uncertainty: “the Separation of Powers.”

If you are interested in a summary of the Act, you can view the bill on OpenCongress here.  For information on related legislation that will modernize America’s health system, you may want to read my recent article on the HI-TECH Act, How New Health Information Technology Will Save Money and Lives.

For those who may feel lost, allow me to quickly bring you up to speed

Obama signed the Act in March of 2010

The Act was introduced September 17, 2009, passed both the House and Senate by late December, 2009, and was later signed into law by the President on March 23, 2010.  Republicans vow to repeal the law, while Democrats dismiss repeal of reform as an impossibility.  One thing is certain; this is a major piece of legislation that implicates millions of lives and billions of dollars.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinilli and 13 other states sued the federal government shortly after the law took effect. Presently, more than 20 states have filed suit against the federal government over the legislation. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said the new laws would have “a significant and unavoidable impact on the bottom line of [Virginia’s] state budget,” reported Richmond Times-Dispatch.  The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has voiced its opposition to Cuccinelli and McDonnell’s challenge, proclaiming, “[T]he political actions of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli may simply allow health-insurance industry abuse of small business, seniors and children to continue.”

Sources of Confusion

Opposition from state Governors and their Attorney Generals is a major source of the public confusion.  The New York Times criticized such efforts and said these state suits “create confusion among the public and further destabilize political support for legislation that is under fierce attack from Republicans in Congress and in many statehouses.” The media’s undivided attention to the individual mandate provision has been broad, as opposed to the seemingly jaded level of concentration allocated to the other stories related to the law.  For example, beginning September 23, 2010, a key provision took effect prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to children based on health status.  But America is divided, as evidenced by a recently introduced state law in California: According to NewAmericaMedia.org, the backlash from insurance companies started in California when large insurers announced that they would no longer offer “child-only” policies.  Only after a law was introduced that would penalize these insurers for such behavior by banning them from the individual market for five years did the insurers reconsider their policy.  This is but one example of how important news stories are being overshadowed by the “individual mandate” debate.

What Role does Virginia Play in Shaping America’s Health Care Reform Debate?

Fast-forward to the present day, and Republicans in the House vow to repeal the law, while Democrats insist it isn’t possible (because they control the Senate).  On the other hand, there is speculation that it would be possible for the House to “de-fund” the legislation because they control the “purse strings.”  It is no wonder that the American public is confused.  Meanwhile, states are challenging provisions of the law in Federal Courts, and there is likely a Supreme Court case in the making, because Federal Courts can’t seem to agree on the constitutionality of a key provision – the “Individual Mandate.”

The "Individual Mandate" of the Act has been challenged in Federal District Courts

Henry Hudson, a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, recently found, this key provision of the Act to be unconstitutional.  Hudson did not undermine the Act and even refused to suspend its implementation pending appeal … he referred to Congress’s enactment as laudable but disagreed that the Commerce Clause granted the powers contained in the Act.  The New York Times provides the full opinion here.  Judge Hudson is the third federal district court judge to decide one of these cases on the merits; more than 20 other judges have cases pending which seek to challenge the law.

Demonstrating the “tit-for-tat” nature of the debate, the Obama administration responded just one day after the Virginia decision in an op-ed piece posted on the Washington Post website.  U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder along with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are of the belief that Americans who are presently insured are paying too much for their insurance, because of an inequitable burden placed upon them by those who don’t have health insurance. “Every insured family pays an average of $1,000 more a year in premiums to cover the care of those who have no insurance,” they said, reported CNN.

Though analysts agree that there may be a Supreme Court case in the making, it will most likely take some time before winding its way up to our nation’s highest court.  Illinois State University Political Science Professor Bob Bradley commented on the aftermath of the Virginia case, stating, “The Supreme Court [is] not going to hear this for awhile…what they’re going to do is let this play through all the other federal district court challenges.” Lawyers involved say it could take two years for the Supreme Court to hear the case.

“The problem is that if [state challenges succeed], they’ll all be left high and dry with half-baked reform plans that won’t work.”  Bnet offered this interesting take on the irony of state-developed reform plans, which would provide more state-autonomy but could do so at the expense of federal grant money.

An American tragedy has delayed the Republican effort to repeal.

Because of the recent shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) that left six dead, the vote to repeal the Act has been postponed.  Scheduled to take place this week, the vote was delayed by House majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), along with the rest of the legislative agenda.

Major Groups that Support and Oppose Health Reform.

Of the groups that  support the Act, OpenCongress lists health professionals, consumer groups, elder groups, the U.S. military, and various trade unions.  The opposition is composed of groups such as accident and health insurance companies, construction companies, security brokers, investment companies, and milk and dairy producers.

To conclude this article, I would like to reiterate that you should not feel bad if you are still confused about the status of the U.S. health reform law. Every day, the mainstream media plasters headlines across its networks and they can be very misleading.  Some headlines I have seen could lead a casual reader to assume the Act never became law.  Still others may perhaps lead one to think the Act is doomed.  Whether you support health reform or not, and no matter what your political philosophy may be, something everyone can agree on is that patience is needed as Congress, the White House, and the Courts sort it out.  Here is the bottom line: the Affordable Care Act is currently law.  Any potential attempt at repeal or prospective landmark Supreme Court case is pure speculation at this point.

Image Credits:

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: Hubpages.com/hub/inauguration-day-clip-art

The Farr Law Firm, a busy, dynamic, and growing Elder Law & Estate Planning firm in Fairfax City, seeks to add an experienced Paralegal or Attorney to our Estate Planning and Estate Administration practice team. You must have superb writing skills, highly-developed organizational skills, strong typing and computer skills, sharp editing skills, polished and professional interpersonal skills, and a sincere desire to work in a friendly, service-oriented environment where helping clients is the number one priority. You must be a quick learner, self-starter, detailed record-keeper, and hard worker who wants to ENJOY serving as part of a dedicated team of professionals. Varied duties will include drafting and editing of legal documents, preparing client and vendor correspondence, preparing for and assisting with document signings, performing general administrative work as required, and daily contact and communication with the firm’s other paralegals, attorneys, clients, and outside vendors.

To be considered, you must be a non-smoker, must not live with a smoker, and must not wear fragrances.

QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal applicant would have excellent academic credentials and at least 10 years of professional office experience, with at least 5 years working in a law firm, preferably in the fields of Estate Planning and/or Estate Administration. Primary software programs we use are Time Matters, Hot Docs, and WordPerfect. Experience with any or all of these programs would be a plus.

TO APPLY:

1. Please review the “About Our Firm” section of our Web site – http://www.VirginiaEstatePlanning.com – to understand as much as possible about our firm.
2. Please take a short skills test by visiting the following link: http://es.eskill.com/es/quiz/?testId=4616d2ef9a84b7b5. Provide your name and email, then click “Take Test.” If the link doesn’t work, you can go to http://www.eskill.com and under “Here for a Test?” click Enter and provide the following ID: 4616d2ef9a84b7b5. Once you complete the test, you’ll be able to view your own test results, and they will automatically be sent to us.
3. Please email your cover letter and resume to the address below. In your cover letter, please explain why this job interests you, and please confirm that you do not smoke, do not live with or frequently associate with smokers, and do not wear fragrances, either at work or elsewhere.
4. Please provide a writing sample if you have one available.