GIFTING and MEDICAID

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Medicaid is a healthcare program designed to help individuals with limited income and assets afford needed medical care. Importantly, Medicaid covers long-term healthcare services such as nursing home costs and costs for at-home personal healthcare. Because Medicaid is intended to benefit those with limited income and assets, there are strict eligibility requirements based on income and assets. Although Medicaid is a federal creation, it is jointly operated by the federal and state governments. As a result, the specific income and asset eligibility requirements for each state are different and you should consult with a Medicaid planning attorney in your area for specific eligibility advice.

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Getting Divorced? Don’t Forget to Update your Estate Plan

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Why do estate planning documents need to be updated when a couple is getting divorced? This simple story illustrates one of the key reasons.

An Arizona couple had been married for several years and during their marriage had built a very successful, multi-million-dollar business together. Perhaps they had focused on building the business rather than their marriage or maybe time simply changes relationships, however, they separated and filed for divorce. The process quickly became bitter and acrimonious.

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FIVE BENEFITS OF CAREGIVER AGREEMENTS

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Long-term caregiving has significant financial consequences for caregivers, particularly for women.  Caregivers face the loss of their own income, loss of employer-based benefits, shrinking of savings to pay for caregiving costs and a threat to their retirement income due to fewer contributions to retirement vehicles.

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What Is the Difference Between Estate Planning and Elder Law?

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Elder law and estate planning law are terms that are often used interchangeably, with people mistakenly referring to both as the exact same thing. However, while elder law and estate planning law may – and often do – go hand-in-hand, the two areas of law have some noteworthy distinctions. Depending upon your age and the specifics of your life, you may need the services of an elder law attorney, an estate planning attorney, or an attorney who focuses on both areas, such as Patricia Bloom-Mcdonald, Attorney at Law. Consider these differences between estate planning and elder law, and reach out to a qualified professional to learn more:

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What Not to Neglect in Your Estate Plan

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An estate plan refers to a comprehensive set of legal documents that are designed to address how your estate is to be managed when you are no longer able to make decisions, either as a result of an incapacitating illness or death. While creating an estate plan requires thinking about one’s own mortality – and is therefore something that many put off doing – creating an estate plan is of critical importance.

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