Medicaid’s Personal Needs Allowance Explained
Seniors who rely on Medicaid and live in nursing homes receive a personal needs allowance — a monthly stipend the Medicaid recipient can use to pay for needs that Medicaid does not cover. Medicaid restricts the amount of the allowance Read More ...
Keeping Your Emergency Contacts and Medical Information Accessible
If medical personnel are able to access your medical history during an emergency, it could mean the difference between life and death. But if, for example, you are injured, in shock, suffering from dementia, or are otherwise incapacitated, you may Read More ...
Nursing Home Eviction? What can you do?
Nursing home evictions, or involuntary discharges or transfers, disrupt the lives of residents, leading to homelessness, separation from familial support systems, and loss of care. As federal law covers all federally funded nursing home residents, nursing home evictions are legal only in Read More ...
Wed., Sept. 21st, 11:30am-1pm, Tips for Planning Ahead
Please join Joseph L. Motta Co., LPA and our fellow panel members at Rose Senior Living in Avon, Ohio for a panel discussion on estate planning and senior wellness. This will be an informative panel discussion with Joseph Motta, elder Read More ...
Roles and Responsibilities of Representative Payees
Do you have a friend or loved one who receives Social Security and is unable to manage her payments? If so, you can request that the Social Security Administration (SSA), the government agency that disburses Social Security, name you as Read More ...
Tues., Nov.1st, 10-2, Aging Well Senior Expo at Lorain County Community College
Come meet Joseph L. Motta on Tuesday, November 1st, 2022, at the Lorain County Community College Spitzer Conference Center from 10:00am-2:00pm. Learn about valuable community services that specifically benefit seniors. The Aging Well Senior Expo is a great place to Read More ...
Qualify For Medicaid With a “Miller” Trust
In order to qualify for Medicaid, the applicant's income must fall below a certain level. Most states allow individuals to spend down any income above this level on their care until they reach the state's income standard. But in some Read More ...
A Person With Disabilities Can Work Without Losing SSI Benefits
To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal program that provides people with disabilities a monthly stipend, individuals must conform to very strict income and asset limits. Often, SSI beneficiaries who could hold a job opt not to because they worry about Read More ...
Medicaid’s Power to Recoup Benefits Paid: Estate Recovery and Liens
Federal law requires the state to attempt to recover the long-term care benefits from a Medicaid recipient's estate after the recipient's death. If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house, it may need to be sold to settle the claim. For Read More ...
“Supportive Housing” For Adult Children With Special Needs
Affordable, safe housing is one of the most crucial aspects of a person’s life, especially if that person has a disability. Parents and guardians must plan for this as early as possible to make sure their loved one has a Read More ...
Shopping For a Medigap Insurance Policy
Medigap premiums for plans from insurance companies offering the same benefits vary widely, so it pays to be a smart shopper. Federal law requires that each insurance company offers the same benefits for each of the Medigap plans lettered A Read More ...
Danbury Senior Living Information Expo in N. Ridgeville
Come meet Joseph L. Motta Thursday, July 21, 2022, at the Danbury Senior Living Villas from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Free information expo for seniors, and people of all ages, to learn more about living your best life. Proud to be a Sponsor: Read More ...
Estate Planning When You Have an Estranged Child
Unfortunately, not all families get along. If you are having problems with one of your children, you may not want them to benefit from your estate. There are several strategies for dealing with an estranged child in your estate plan. Read More ...
July 12th, Independence Village Knowledge Panel
Come meet Joseph L. Motta Tuesday, July 12th, 2022, at The Independence Village Senior Living in Avon Lake, OH. Join us with the same panel from The Most Informative Lunch & Learn EVER!, that we put on Tuesday, Read More ...
Qualify For Medicaid While Supporting Your Child With Disabilities
If you have a child with a disability, providing for them into the future will likely stand among your top priorities. However, if you also wish to apply for Medicaid to cover your own long-term care expenses, first consider establishing Read More ...
Entering a Nursing Home as a Medicaid Recipient
While Medicaid helps pay for nursing home care, being admitted to a nursing home as a Medicaid recipient is not always easy. There are several ways to navigate the process, depending on your situation. With the median cost of a nursing Read More ...
How to Approach Leaving Your Children Unequal Inheritances
Parents usually want to leave their children equal shares of their estate, but equal isn’t always fair. If you plan to provide more (or less) for one child in your estate plan, preparation is important. It is natural for parents Read More ...
Meet Your Avon Lake Elder Law Attorney: Friday, July 8th
Do you love local baseball as much as Joe? Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful night with the family watching baseball at the Lake Erie Crushers stadium in Avon on July 8th and stop by Joe's table. Read More ...
Five Most Important Legal Documents for Estate Planning
At Joseph L. Motta Co. our tagline is "Leave a Legacy, Not a Predicament," because we truly want to help people to avoid leaving their family a mess to unravel upon death. The passing of a loved one is already Read More ...
Estate Planning: Considerations When You Have a Stepfamily
Ideally, when a second marriage joins two families together, it should be a joyous occasion that creates one bigger blended family unit. Unfortunately, when the estate plan lacks clarity, it too often also creates inheritance fights between stepparents and children. Read More ...
What Makes a Will Valid? Dramatic Wills: Scribbled Notes, Videos and Last Wishes.
You've surely seen a dramatic presentation of a will in either a movie, television show, or in a book. From handwritten notes and scribbled on a napkin to a self-made video or last utterances to a companion in the last Read More ...
Why Everyone Over 60 Should Update Their Estate Plan
How frequently you should review your estate plan depends on how old you are and whether there has been a significant change in your circumstances. If you are over age 60 and you haven't updated your estate plan in many Read More ...
Southwood Case Reminds Us That Incapacity Planning is Important
What is Mental Incapacity or Incapacitated? As we age, our likelihood of mental incapacity increases. After all, our bodies and minds deteriorate as we age. Mental incapacity could result from dementia, stroke, brain injury, or other illness. What is mental Read More ...
Maximizing Couple’s Assets When Applying For Medicaid
Medicaid Snapshot Date When a married couple applies for Medicaid, the Medicaid agency must analyze the couple’s income and assets as of a particular date to determine eligibility. The date that the agency chooses for this analysis is called the Read More ...
Why Small Business Owners Need an Estate Plan
Running a small business can keep you busy, but it should not keep you from creating an estate plan. Not having a plan in place can cause problems for your business and your family after you are gone. What Happens Read More ...
Biden Proposes Major Nursing Home Reforms Implemented by Medicare Services
The Biden administration has announced far-reaching nursing home reforms, targeting staffing and accountability at facilities with deficient care. Advocates are calling the proposals, which include the first-ever federal minimum staffing levels, the most significant reforms in decades. Nursing homes have Read More ...
How to Give Gifts to Your Grandchildren
Gifting assets to your grandchildren can do more than help your descendants get a good start in life -- it can also reduce the size of your estate and the tax that will be due upon your death. Perhaps the simplest Read More ...
Spending From ABLE Accounts
ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts offer people with disabilities a great, tax-free way to accumulate money without jeopardizing their qualifications for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other means-tested programs. Withdrawals are tax-free as long as the money is used Read More ...
The Tax Consequences of Selling a House After the Death of a Spouse
If your spouse dies, you may have to decide whether or when to sell your house. There are some tax considerations that go into that decision. The biggest concern when selling property is capital gains taxes. A capital gain is Read More ...
5/26: Wesleyan Village Classic Car Show in Elyria
Come meet Joseph L. Motta Thursday, May 26th, 2022, at the Wesleyan Village Classic Car Show from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Free admission - food trucks, games and raffles available for a charge. A must see event for the classic car enthusiast or Read More ...
When Are Survivors Eligible for Benefits After a Social Security Recipient Dies?
When loved ones pass away, there are lots of considerations, including what happens to their Social Security. The decedent’s payments need to be stopped, but survivor’s benefits may be available to the spouse or, in certain cases, children. Social Security Read More ...
5/5th: North Coast Business Expo in Avon Lake, Ohio
The City of Avon Lake, in cooperation with the North Coast Chamber of Commerce, has announced the 9th Annual North Coast Business Expo on Thursday, May 5 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Ahern's Banquet Center, 726 Avon Belden Read More ...
4/28th: Boomer Bash at Crocker Park in Westlake
Come meet Joseph L. Motta Thursday, April 28th, 2022, at the NEO Boomer Bash at Crocker Park in Westlake. General Admission tickets are only $10 per person. Save your spot and buy tickets now at eventbrite.com. Event Details Boomer Bash West Read More ...
4/13 Lunch and Learn in Avon: Estate Planning, Aging in Place and More
Come meet Joseph L. Motta Wednesday, April 13th, 2022, at The Ganzhorn Suites in Avon, OH. Join us as the same panel from The Most Informative Lunch & Learn EVER!, that we put on Tuesday, March 22nd at Read More ...
How Long Does an Executor’s Job Take?
Being the executor of an estate can be a time-consuming job, depending on the size and complexity of the estate. While a simple estate can take a few months and not require a huge time commitment, if there are problems, Read More ...
Using a Roth IRA as an Estate Planning Tool
A Roth IRA does not have to be used as just a retirement plan; it can also be a way to transfer assets tax-free to the next generation. Unlike a traditional IRA, contributions to a Roth IRA are taxed, which Read More ...
Home Health Aide Costs See the Sharpest Increase in Annual Long-Term Care Survey
Long-term care costs climbed again in 2021, with rates for home health aides and homemakers seeing the sharpest rises, according to Genworth’s annual Cost of Care Survey. The coronavirus pandemic continues to contribute to cost increases. In the past year, Read More ...
Declining to Act as an Agent Under a Power of Attorney
Acting as an agent under a power of attorney is a big responsibility and it isn’t something everyone can take on. It is possible to resign or refuse the position. There are two main types of powers of attorney – Read More ...
What Happens When Gift and Estate Tax Exemption is Cut in Half?
Although the vast majority of Americans have estates that fall under the estate and gift tax exemption, the exemption is set to be cut in half in 2026. Proper planning may be necessary to make sure you are taking full Read More ...
Don’t Want an IRA Distribution? Donate It to Charity.
Not everyone wants to take the required minimum distributions from their retirement accounts right away. If you don’t want your distribution, one option is to donate it to charity and get a tax deduction. You are required to begin taking Read More ...
3/22 – The Most Informative Lunch & Learn EVER!
Join this amazing panel of experts for the "Most Informative Lunch & Learn EVER!" on Tuesday, March 22nd from 11:30AM - 1:00PM at the Avon Lake Old Firehouse Community Center. Gain valuable information from professionals concerning home care, medical & Read More ...
Annual Contribution Ceiling for ABLE Accounts Rises
The maximum amount that can be contributed each year to an ABLE account for a person with disabilities rose $1,000 to $16,000 on January 1, 2022. The figure, which is tied to the inflation-adjusted value of the IRS’s gift tax exclusion, had Read More ...