Top 5 Legal Holiday Tips for Grandparents
Getting older is a good thing, but as people advance in age, the holidays (and life in general) can become more complicated. Whether the family is coming to celebrate with you, or you're traveling to visit family, getting ready and being prepared for the holidays is never easy.
The following legal tips are geared toward making sure you have a safe, crime-free, scam-free, and maybe even productive, holiday season.
1. Tis the Season for Estate Planning
As families grow older together, they often spread out, geographically, across the country. The holidays are an ideal time to discuss estate plans because everyone is actually gathered together in one place. Plan a time, ideally not during the big holiday meal, and let everyone know a week in advance that you want to have a family meeting.
2. 5 Common Holiday Crimes Everyone Should Know About
The holidays are a profitable time for criminals. While shoppers spend money on gifts, thieves are on the lookout for easy targets. Knowing about the most common holiday crimes is essential to not falling victim to them.
3. Don't Fall for a Gift Card Scam This Holiday Season
The gift card scam is basically any scam that requires a person to pay some fee, fine, cost, or anything, via providing the gift card numbers (pin numbers, pin codes, etc...) to someone over the phone or internet. If anyone is asking you to give them gift card info over the phone, don't. And remember, there are plenty of stories about scammers pretending to be grandchildren in order to steal money from elderly victims.
4. Warning Signs That You're Too Old to Drive
Heed the warning signs, especially during the holiday. If you think that your ability to drive has begun to deteriorate, say something. If you are supposed to drive to see your family, there are other ways to get where you are going safely. Remember, you're not just risking your own life, you can potentially injure or kill another driver, or a whole family traveling during the holidays.
5. Gifting Dogs, Cats, or Other Pets: Are There Legal Risks?
Yes, your grandchildren want a pet. Regardless of what their parents think, you're going to get it for them. However, it is probably a good idea to consult the parents first anyway (at least give them a warning), and definitely don't put the pet in a box without plenty of air-holes (and wait until the last minute to do so- don't leave a puppy in a closed box during a long drive).
Related Resources:
- Find an Attorney Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
- Grandparent Visitation Rights (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- Types of Elder Abuse (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- 5 Tips for Spotting Family Theft From Elderly Parents (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)