Blog

1.     Does my child need a diagnosis to receive accommodations in school?  No. The school is required to evaluate any student they suspect of having a disability to determine whether the child should be eligible for special education. Having a diagnosis to share with the school should be helpfu...

A lot can change over the summer. When there is new information about your child, their IEP may need to catch up. Parents ask: "My child has an updated diagnosis, do I have to have a meeting to add this new information to their IEP (Individual Education Plan)?" Ask yourself: Have we learned s...

Some of the most important decisions affecting a child's future financial independence are made at an IEP meeting. As a disability rights attorney, I often meet families who wish someone had explained this to them sooner. One of the questions I encourage families and professionals working with ch...

Join us! We had a great time last year and are back again. We are proud to sponsor one of our community partners,  Birmingham NEXT's, car show event. The Next parking lot transforms into a showcase for classic cars, muscle cars and other unique vehicles, and enjoy a light lunch, while you “cruis...

If you're in your 40s and your parents are in their 70s, now is the time to start talking - not because there's a crisis, but because planning works best before one happens. But this conversation isn't just for families. Financial advisors, CPAs, wealth managers, insurance professionals, and oth...

How to Help Aging Parents Stay Safe Without Taking Away Their Independence "My parents are doing fine on their own." Many adult children believe this until something unexpected happens. Perhaps a trusted cleaning service begins overcharging. A contractor pressures them into unnecessary repairs. ...

June is Alzheimer's & Brain Health Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to talk about one of the most common and emotional questions families face. A woman recently asked me: "My mom and I are the main caregivers for my dad with dementia. We'd love for Mom to come on our family summer vac...

I found myself nodding in agreement throughout this article Planning for Aging and Chronic Illness Published by: National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (summary and link below) because it reflects the way we have been practicing estate planning for many years. Effective planning is ...

Financial scams targeting older adults aren't just increasing—they're becoming more convincing, more personal, and more costly. According to reporting from The New York Times, Americans over 60 lose more than $2.4 billion each year to financial exploitation, with losses often accelerating in the ...

Friday FAQs series: “Mom is in her late 70's and doesn't want to leave the house anymore. What are some things I can do to support her?” Care Coordinator Beth Regner, PA-C, CDP, a licensed physician assistant with over twenty years in healthcare, has this to share.   This is such a common situ...

At Schluter & Hughes Law Firm, PLLC, we understand that aging is not a single moment, it's a journey filled with decisions, transitions, and, at times, difficult conversations. That's why we've built a team that extends beyond traditional legal services. Our dedicated Care Coordinators are experi...

By the time most of us get engaged today, we're not starting from zero. We've built careers. We've taken on debt. Some of us own homes, run businesses, or have equity. Yet, when it comes to marriage, there's still this lingering notion that talking about money is unromantic. We're more intentio...

During Women's History Month, we are proud to focus on educating and empowering women to take an active role in estate planning. In a recent conversation with WJBK‑TV FOX 2 Detroit Reporter and Anchor Brandon Hudson, Attorney Dawn M. Schluter, JD, LLM reflected on the legacy of the “Queen of Sou...

Women's History Month is a time to reflect on progress — the rights won, the barriers broken, the leadership claimed. It's also a moment to look forward. Today, women are business owners, primary breadwinners, caregivers, investors, philanthropists, and decision-makers at every level. Women are...

Not many people can pinpoint the precise moment or specific person that sent them down their life's path. I'm lucky enough to say that I can. His name is Daniel. When I was 16 and he was 6, Daniel was my camper at the Jewish Community Center day camp in West Bloomfield, MI. It was my first summer...

An Aging-in-Place Home Assessment is a Solid First Step  For many adults, home is more than an address. It's history, comfort, and independence. And the desire to stay there is stronger than ever. Recent national surveys continue to show that more than three-quarters of adults over 50 want to re...

As we approach the holidays and winter break, the school year reaches its halfway point—a natural moment to pause, reflect, and take stock of what has worked and what hasn't. Over the next few weeks, as you sip hot cocoa by a warm fire, consider a simple goal: replace “I think it's going okay” wi...

If you're caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or a loved one recovering from surgery, you already know: caregiving is an act of love—but it can also feel like a full-time job layered on top of the job you already have. And during National Family Caregivers Month, it's worth acknowledging someth...

A Reflection Piece for National Family Caregivers Month.  As a nurse, Director of Care Coordination at Schluter & Hughes Law and proud member of the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA), I was deeply moved by NPR's recent feature, “A Caregiver's Survival Guide: Advice from People Who've Been There...

At Schluter & Hughes, we believe estate planning and advance care planning go hand-in-hand.  A recent American Bar Association workbook focused on the combined medical and legal perspective when it comes end-of-life planning and advance directives. An advance directive is a legal document that al...

The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) makes several noteworthy changes to the federal income tax rules for charitable deductions. While the law creates new opportunities for certain taxpayers, it also imposes new limits on higher-income donors beginning in 2026. Understanding these s...

“Feeling grateful for the thoughtful feature by DBusiness & RJ King on our work bringing estate planning and care coordination together. It's an honor to be recognized among professionals who care deeply about helping families plan with compassion and clarity. Thank you for shining a light on wha...

https://www.pbs.org/show/caregiving/ MOVIE NOTES FROM PBS From Executive Producer Bradley Cooper, this is the story of paid and unpaid caregivers navigating the challenges and joys of this deeply meaningful work. Intertwining intimate personal stories with the untold history of caregiving, the do...

Thriving, Not Just Surviving Aging in place is about living well, not just staying put. With the right modifications, support system, and legal plan, your home can remain a safe, comfortable place for years to come. Whether you're married or solo, there's a high probability you will grow older ...

If you're juggling kids, careers, and the care of aging parents, welcome to the Sandwich Generation—a group that's growing faster than ever. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly one in four adults now find themselves supporting both their children and their parents at the same time. And w..