The Need for Medicaid Planning
One of the greatest fears of older Americans is that they may end up in a nursing home. This not only means a great loss of personal autonomy, but also a tremendous financial price. Careful planning can help ease the…
The Attorney’s Role in Medicaid Planning
Do you need an attorney for even “simple” Medicaid planning? This depends on your situation, but in most cases, the prudent answer would be “yes.” The social worker at your mother’s nursing home assigned to assist in preparing a Medicaid…
Annuities and Medicaid Planning
In some circumstances, immediate annuities can be ideal Medicaid planning tools for spouses of nursing home residents. Careful planning is needed to make sure an annuity will work for you or your spouse. An immediate annuity, in its simplest form,…
Watch Out for These Potential Problems with Life Estates
Life estates can be an excellent tool for Medicaid planning, probate avoidance and tax efficiency, but there are potential problems to look out for. Knowing the implications and risks of a life estate is essential in determining whether it is…
Receiving an Inheritance While on Medicaid
For most people, receiving an inheritance is something good, but for a nursing home resident on Medicaid, an inheritance may not be such welcome news. Medicaid has strict income and resource limits, so an inheritance can make a Medicaid recipient…
Caregiver Contracts: How to Pay a Family Member for Care
Although people are willing to voluntarily care for a parent or loved one without any promise of compensation, caregiver contracts (also called personal service or personal care agreement) for a family member can have many benefits. It rewards the family member doing…
Five Topics to Discuss With Your Spouse Before You Retire
You may have a vision for your retirement, but does your spouse share that vision? Have you done any retirement planning? Spouses often disagree about many key retirement details. It is important to work together to come up with a…
Long-Reviled Military ‘Widow’s Tax’ Is Finally Being Phased Out
A controversial policy that reduces the benefits of military spouses is on the way out. The so-called “widow’s tax” cuts assistance to surviving military spouses who qualify for benefits under two different military benefit programs. The two programs are: The…
May Someone With Dementia Sign a Will?
Millions of people are affected by dementia, and unfortunately many of them do not have all their estate planning affairs in order before the symptoms start. If you or a loved one has dementia, it may not be too late…
States Move towards Nursing Home Immunity from Liability During Coronavirus Pandemic
Chronic understaffing. Low-wage caregivers. Difficulty containing infections. These are problems that nursing homes faced in the best of times but that have proved especially deadly as the coronavirus pandemic has spread like wildfire though long-term care facilities. In response, many…