Wills & Probate

December 19, 2015

Bob Goss Recognized By Avvo With The “Avvo 2015 Clients’ Choice Award”!

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

We at the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. are delighted to announce that our principal and founder, Bob Goss, has been recognized by Avvo, the well-known attorney rating and review site, with Avvo’s “Clients’ Choice 2015.”

Avvo’s attorney rating system identifies rankings of 10.0 – 9.0 as “Superb.” Based on Avvo’s mathematical model, which includes input from hundreds of attorneys, thousands of consumers, and legal professionals who understand the work attorneys perform, Bob received a perfect Avvo “10.0” score.

This is the second year in a row that Bob (pictured at right) has been recognized by Avvo as a “Clients’ Choice” attorney. Continue reading

October 20, 2015

How to avoid a costly common post-service mistake. Part II of an interview with Bob Goss

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Bob Goss, founder of the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C.

Robert B. Goss is a Veteran, attorney, and the founder of the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. Bob, as he prefers to be called, started his law firm in response to the need he saw for a level playing field between Veterans and the government system intended to provide benefits to Veterans. Recently, I had an opportunity to discuss with Bob some of his thoughts on how Veterans can be better served. The following is Part II of a two-part conversation.

Eleanor Meltzer: Bob, I know Veterans can contact you directly. What recommendations do you have for Veterans who are struggling to obtain benefits?

Robert Goss: “Don’t wait to contact me.” I hope everyone reading this interview tells their active-duty friends the following: if you are just leaving the service, make the service give you a physical. Once you leave service (and are now a Veteran), claim ALL your disabilities. For instance, a paratrooper most likely is going to have orthopedic issues, tinnitus, hearing loss. Depending on the individual, there may be other service-connected traumas such as PTSD and burn-pit related injuries. FILE WITHIN THE 1^ST YEAR after leaving the service. Why? Because then your benefits go back to the day after separation. If a Veteran has been out longer than a year, they still need to file. The sooner the better. Continue reading

October 14, 2015

Dangerous Health Problems Facing Gulf War Veterans

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

The 2010 Census offers unique insight to U.S. Veterans. Over 835,000 Americans are Veterans who served during both Gulf War eras. Almost 50,000 more American Veterans served in Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras. Clearly, there is a large population of Veterans who likely have service-connected injuries which manifest themselves more painfully as time goes on.

If you are a Gulf War-era Veteran, would you recognize a service-connected medical condition? Among the most common types of service-connected health problems now suffered by Gulf War-era Veterans are: Continue reading

September 21, 2015

VA’s Upcoming Changes to Pension Benefits: Are You Prepared?

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Are you prepared?

Constant vigilance is important in any estate plan involving Veterans benefits. Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule to amend its regulations governing entitlement to certain pension benefits.

Why is VA proposing changes now to an institution designed to assist wartime Veterans, their surviving spouses, and their children? VA specifically states it plans to change pension rules under the Veterans’ and Survivors’ Pension Improvement Act of 1978 because “we have received information that, under current regulations, claimants who are not actually in need may qualify for these needs-based benefits.” VA further notes that pension changes will go beyond administration of this particular Act, stating, “[f]or clarity and consistency, some of the changes we propose would apply to other needs-based benefits as well.” Continue reading

September 16, 2015

Veterans: Are You Protecting Your Domestic Partner?

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Are you protecting your domestic partner?

Remember the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” This statement could not be more true for planning your estate. Let’s take an issue that’s been in the news quite a bit these days: domestic partnership. If you have a domestic partner, will they receive your benefits? What happens if you become gravely ill? If you want your domestic partner to make vital health decisions on your behalf, do they have legal permission? If you are gravely ill and have minor children from a previous relationship, will your domestic partner have the legal right to care for your children as you wish?

While it’s easy to be fooled into thinking you are protecting your significant other when you’re not, it is also easy to forgo significant benefits for your partner. One of the most important loving acts you can do for your domestic partner is ensure that they receive all the Veterans benefits to which they are, through you, entitled. Continue reading

March 6, 2015

179 Years ago Today, the Alamo and all of the Defenders Fell

by Bob Goss

Today, the Alamo fell to the Mexican Army under the command of General Santa Ana.

After holding off a far numerically superior army for 13 days the final assault began shortly after midnight. Using darkness and a calm the Mexican army crept close to the Alamo, and at approximately 0530 began the final assault. By 0630 all the Texican forces, defenders of liberty were dead.

The Texas defenders and Army, however, won the war 6 weeks later as Gen. Sam Houston defeated Gen. Santa Ana and his army at San Jacinto, TX.

November 3, 2014

Veterans Day 2014 Concert

by Bob Goss

ALL:

The Morton Ranch High School Choir (Katy) will be presenting a:

Veteran’s Day Concert on

June 6, 2013

Remember June 6, 1944, D-Day

by Bob Goss

Today is the 69th anniversary of the invasion of France to liberate Europe from the Nazis.

This week I mentioned D-Day was Thursday. One of our young secretaries stated she did not know about D-Day.

D-Day for WW II was on June 6, 1944. D-Day is the day the Allies launched the largest military operation, at the time, to free France and all of Europe from the Nazi occupation. This week the U.S. Senate lost their last World War II (WW II) veteran, Sen. Lautenberg. He served in the Army Signal Corps from 1942-46. After separating from the Army Sen. Lautenberg used the GI Bill to earn an economics degree and eventually serve New Jersey as a U.S. Senator.

March 25, 2013

Military Retiree’s are Veterans Too – – Contact Congress and OPPOSE TRICARE fee increases

by Bob Goss

For those of you who have served, you know this Fact – – Military Retirees are Veterans. But it seems with Sequestration upon the United States, the Department of Defense at the urging of the White House has a solution – – have Military Retirees pay MORE IN TRICARE FEES.

Why raise TRICARE fees because of my favorite White House word “fairness.” The whole idea pushed for Obamacare was fairness for those without health care. But the WH states Military Retiree’s Health Care costs are not fair compared to the public.

But is it fair to give free health care to those who do nothing? And then conversely argue it is fair to force Veterans who are Military Retirees (remember Military Retirees include veterans who were medically retired due to Injuries) to pay ever increasing TRICARE fees. TRICARE raised all fees in 2012. No – – The proposal to keep raising TRICARE fees on the back of veterans is not fair.

November 7, 2012

Protection afforded Veterans and their VA benefits.

by Bob Goss

Know your Rights!

VA benefits are protected from creditors, taxation, and other legal processes.

With the extremely long delay in obtaining VA benefits from the VA, many veterans face tremendous and crippling medical bills.

This blog will help you know your rights, and protect your VA benefit payments. Please see https://www.attorneyforveterans.com. Threats and constant calls from creditors and even advice from non-VA accredited attorneys may compel veterans to make unwise decisions regarding their VA benefits.

One of my veterans desperately e-mailed me stating his bankruptcy attorney was going to include his VA disability payments as an asset that a hospital could collect and garnish. This advice is incorrect. The veteran just wanted to have the creditor stop calling.
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