Guardianship is a legal arrangement in which one adult assumes responsibility for another. A legal guardian has an obligation to act in the best interests of the adult ward in their care. The courts have the authority to award guardianship to a competent adult, but...
The half-a-loaf strategy once sounded simple. You gave away part of your assets and kept the rest to cover a Medicaid penalty period. On paper, it looked like a balanced move that protected something while still opening the door to benefits. Now, the picture looks...
When applying for the Medicaid program, familiarizing yourself with its eligibility rules is necessary. The one element you must not overlook is the allowable asset and income limit. Exceeding the allowable limits can complicate your application, which may lead to...
Deciding to seek guardianship over a loved one is never easy. You may be feeling a huge range of emotions over the situation – from concern and confusion to guilt and grief. However, in some cases, action simply becomes necessary to ensure that a vulnerable loved one...
Applying for a nursing home can be a complex – and stressful – process. From the financial planning to the legal documentation, all the “moving parts” can become overwhelming. One way to make the process smoother and more efficient is by working with an attorney....
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is a specialized legal tool designed to help people protect their assets while planning for long-term care expenses and qualifying for Medicaid. Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides healthcare coverage,...
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal directive that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf – and they’re commonly used in estate planning for end-of-life management. You might, for example, empower your son or daughter to make medical decisions for...
If you’re like most people, you’re probably not entirely familiar with the practice of elder law – but elder law is going to become an increasingly important part of the social framework of this country in the future. The United States has a rapidly aging population....
A lot of seniors need to rely on in-home caregivers as they start to mentally and physically decline, usually because they hope to age in place. Unfortunately, that can leave them ripe for financial exploitation. Finding a trustworthy caregiver isn’t easy. According...
Identity theft and scams continue to plague the nation in epidemic numbers, and seniors are among the prime targets. The FBI reports that in 2022 those in the over-60 age group lost over 3.1 billion dollars to scammers, an increase of 84% over the prior year. Many...
