Under Connecticut case law, if a tree is growing on one person’s land but its branches or roots encroach on a neighbor’s land, the neighbor, within certain limitations can cut off the branches or roots up to the line of his or her land. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to be sure you speak with your neighbor about cutting back or even trimming a tree before it is done. The conversation is much more uncomfortable with a neighbor if it is later determined that the tree should have never been cut in the first place.

Part 4 in Our Series: Are Your Affairs in Order?

A conservatorship, where one serves as a Conservator of the person and Conservator of the estate, can deal with medical decisions, life decisions, but also financial decisions, decisions on debts, decisions on assets, things of that nature.

The Health Care Agent form is basically a document, very much like a power of attorney, that states that if you can't make a healthcare decision on your own, the designated Health Care Agent will make that decision for you. Ideally, this person that you’re appointing is the person who knows you very well, and is closest to you, whether a family member or a friend. This is someone that you feel comfortable with so that if you can't express your wishes in writing, they know you well enough to know what your wishes would be and would have the ability and the respect to make those wishes on your behalf if you can't do so.

A Living Will is a document that's put together during your lifetime that is utilized during your lifetime. It has legal effect during your lifetime, but it's something that, quite frankly, is not acknowledged often enough because people are more focused on a Last Will and Testament and where their assets are going. They often overlook how they're going to manage their assets and life decisions while they're still alive.

Do you have the right documents in place if you were to get sick, have a medical procedure or a prolonged emergency? Would you be able to manage your business, manager your finances or your health decisions?

Are you getting automated phone calls on your cell phone? Do you answer your cell phone only to hear a pre-recorded message on the other end? Even worse, are debt collectors calling your cell phone via automated dialer or “robo call”, leaving messages or continuing to do so even when you asked them not to? Do you have any rights? You do! In 1991 Congress enacted the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. 227). This act is meant to help consumers who receive unsolicited telemarketing calls, , unsolicited faxes, pre-recorded and/or automated calls to their cell phones or landlines. They can be solicitations or debt collection calls. The law is violated each time there is a call placed. If you are getting these types of calls and want them to stop what should you do? If you fall victim to these types of tactics you should (1) document evidenced by saving all harassing solicitations or debt collection phone calls, (2) obtain and save all phone records and highlight incoming calls from debt collectors or telemarketers, (3) make a written record of the calls you are receiving, specifically recording the date of the call, time of the call, caller’s identity and a summary of any conversation held with the caller, (4) save voice mail messages and (5) revoke your consent to receive calls in writing and keep a copy of the letter doing so (revocation of consent can be done verbally during the violating call). Finally, don’t forget to call Attorney Vincent J. Averaimo at Milford Law. Milford Law represents consumers against unfair trade and credit practices involving faulty and dangerous goods or dishonest claims or tactics, unfair collection practices or failures to honor warranties in both State and Federal Courts.

Milford Law has developed a college information package of documents that will give you all the necessary legal authority to assist your child in whatever manner necessary despite being over 18 years of age. Whether you are trying to find out the balance owed on your child’s tuition, deadlines for financial aid applications for the following year or whether the proper credits were applied to your child’s account, these documents will afford you that legal authority.

Do you have or have you considered putting a security camera on your property? While this is a great safety tool, you need to be careful of how you use this technology so you don't set yourself up for legal troubles.If you're not careful with how you set up and use this technology, you could be recording much more than you realize.