Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney
While a will is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have, there are things that it won’t cover. A will is just one part of a comprehensive estate plan. A will is a legally-binding statement directing Read More …
For better and for worse, Medicaid is the primary method of paying for long-term care and nursing homes in the United States. But navigating the Medicaid system is complicated and confusing. Here are the basics. What is Medicaid? Medicaid is a Read More …
A New Jersey man has been charged with stealing $330,000 from the special needs trust (SNT) of a man living in a long-term care facility. The case highlights the importance of having a professional trustee manage a special needs trust. Read More …
As the second (and maybe third) round of stimulus checks go out, it is important to know that nursing home residents are not required to turn their checks over to their nursing home. And Medicaid recipients need to spend the Read More …
The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) and the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) are sometimes called the “granddaddies” of college savings accounts. Both allow parents to establish custodial accounts for a minor child, and a grandparent can then Read More …
Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper long-term care planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets for future generations. Long-term care can Read More …
Long-term care is the care you need if you can’t perform daily activities on your own for an extended period of time. There are a number of different ways that long-term care can be provided which are explained in our Read More …
All long-term care costs rose sharply in 2020, but assisted living facility costs increased the most, according to Genworth’s latest annual Cost of Care Survey. The across-the-board rises were due in part to increased costs brought on by the coronavirus Read More …
Whether you have a dog, cat, pig, bird or reptile, pets are members of the family, so it is important to consider how to provide for them in your estate plan just as you would the human family members. While Read More …
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2021 income as a result of buying long-term care insurance. Premiums for “qualified” long-term care insurance policies (see explanation below) are tax deductible to the extent Read More …
Those that are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, may want to consider withdrawing money from retirement accounts while they can still avoid a penalty. The special exemption allowing early withdrawals without a penalty ends soon. Passed in Read More …
If you are planning to move to another state, will you be able to take your Medicare or Medicaid plans along? We get this question frequently, and it’s a good one. Many couples consider moving to warmer weather when they Read More …
Medicaid is a joint program of the federal and state governments that can cover the nursing home costs of individuals who meet its strict financial requirements. Single Person Medicaid Qualifications: A single person may qualify for Medicaid only Read More …
Many types of property and investments pass outside of probate and allow you to designate who will receive them after your death. It is important that these designations are kept up to date and are consistent with the rest of Read More …
Making sure your end-of-life wishes are followed no matter where you are is important. When you move to a different state, work in a different state for long periods of time, vacation in a different state for months at a Read More …
With all the deductibles, copayments and coverage exclusions, Medicare pays for only about half of the medical costs of America’s senior citizens. Much of the balance not covered by Medicare can be covered by purchasing a “Medigap” insurance policy. Medigap Read More …
Retirement account owners, many of whose retirement balances have been pummeled by a stock market drop due to the coronavirus pandemic, do not have to take mandatory withdrawals this year. Typically there are rules mandating Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, Read More …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2020 federal guidelines for how much money the spouses of institutionalized Medicaid recipients may keep, as well as related Medicaid figures. How Much Can the Spouse Keep Without Jeopardizing Medicaid Read More …
Creating and executing estate planning documents is just the first step. Once you have completed the documents, you need to know what to do with them. All estate plans should include, at minimum, two important planning instruments: a durable power Read More …
If your parents are getting on in years, you may be helping them with their finances and other matters, such as medical visits and shopping. You may live close by and be able to visit weekly or more often. Or Read More …
