Has anything happened in the last ten (10) years of your life? Seems like a silly question to ask, but if your estate planning is more than ten years old, it likely isn’t an accurate reflection of your life today or the laws of your state of residence. As the commercial says, “Life happens fast.” […]
Category Archives: Elder Law, Medicaid, VA Benefits
8 Important Points About Your Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney is designed to solve certain problems for individuals and their families – not create them. Making rushed decisions about this without considering the full legal consequences can create confusion, delays, and conflict in the family. If you carefully consider your options beforehand and take time to understand the powers you […]
What are the Differences Between Wills and Revocable Living Trusts?
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn When you start thinking about estate planning in Florida, the terminology can be a little intimidating: wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills… It can get confusing. There are important differences between these estate planning tools, each accomplishing a different task (or multiple tasks in some cases) within a […]
Understanding Different Types of Trusts
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Most people wish to leave the valuable assets they acquired over the course of a lifetime, such as real estate and savings, to the next generation. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by setting up a trust. A trust is a financial arrangement between three parties. In […]
How to Recertify for Medicaid
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Medicaid is a government program that provides millions of Americans with health coverage and other benefits including nursing home care. The recipients of Medicaid include the elderly, disabled and low-income adults, pregnant women and qualifying children. Many of the services provided by Medicaid, such as doctor or hospital visits, nursing home […]
How Long Should I Keep These Documents?
In this day and age, it’s not uncommon to become inundated with bank stubs, receipts from purchases and other documents or scraps of paper of varying importance. While we cannot (and should not) hold on to everything, understanding which documents should be kept secure and safe and which documents can be replaced or are unnecessary […]
Florida Medicaid Spend Down Programs Reduce Excess Assets
When you apply for Medicaid, the state will review your financial records for the previous five years. That means that you may need to have a plan in place for your assets at least five years before you apply for Medicaid. This 5-year look-back period means you cannot just give away your assets or sell them for less
An Elder Law Attorney Can Help You Apply for Medicaid
Many people put off estate planning and find themselves unable to get help when they need it. When a person loses their mental capacity, planning options are limited. Planning ahead for long term care needs, including Medicaid eligibility, helps ensure your spouse and family will continue to have financial stability if you need long-term care.
Special Needs Trust Trustee Responsibilities
Being named trustee of a special needs trust is a great honor as well as a huge responsibility. Whether you are seeking a trustee or thinking about accepting a request to act as one for a family member, your first move should be to contact an experienced special needs and elder law lawyer.
How the Changes to Retroactive Medicaid Affect You
In 2018, lawmakers changed the retroactive eligibility for those who qualify for Medicaid from 90 days to 30 days. This dramatic change is expected to affect thousands of Floridians.