Nursing Home Benefits – Without Sacrificing Your Inheritance The unfortunate reality for many is the exorbitant cost of nursing home care for an aging family member. In addition to the cost, many people come to find their inheritances – often in the form of a home or proceeds from the sale of that home – […]
Elder Law is a legal discipline that addresses the needs of aging seniors as well as individuals with disabilities. Our elder law services blend Estate Planning with a focus on long-term care planning and advocacy. We believe that estate planning is not just about what happens after you die but needs to address how you will live […]
How many of us plan adequately for a lifetime disability? Leaving your planning to chance and unforeseen circumstances will only breed disaster. If you are unable to handle your own affairs (business, financial and personal), who will do so for you? Chances are that we will all suffer a debilitating illness such as a stroke, […]
In this computer age, when so many tasks are accomplished via the internet — including banking, shopping, and important business communications — it may seem logical to turn to the internet when creating a legal document such as a will . Certainly, there are several websites advertising how easy and inexpensive it is to do […]
When someone gets ready to move into an assisted living facility there will inevitably be a lot of paperwork involved. Much of that paperwork is fairly straightforward and need not be a cause for concern. However, amid the big stack of needed signatures, there is one document you must review carefully before signing. That document […]
Question: My mother put the deed to her house in my name as some security for my future and also because I am her only caregiver. We lived in her home together until recently, when we downsized and moved into my house. I am hoping to try to rent her house now as supplemental income. She […]
Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Joy Poskozim, a Chicago-area Dentist who offers home dental visits for elderly patients. Dental health is an essential part of overall well-being, and maintaining a beautiful, healthy smile can significantly improve one’s quality of life. Regular visits to the dentist are crucial for preventing oral health issues […]
The Issue The use of a Caregiver Agreement is an extremely important topic that most people don’t learn about it until it’s too late. Did you know that prior to making any payments for caregiver services you must have a signed Caregiver Agreement that was ordered by a doctor in writing? If you or someone you know wishes to […]
The probate court exists primarily for two reasons – protection and distribution. During your lifetime, if you become incapacitated and need someone to act on your behalf, he / she must have legal authority to do so. Unless you have given the person(s) you want that authority (for example through a power of attorney), they […]
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Additionally, it is not sufficient to simply write a will or trust and leave the rest to chance. Estate planning is a process in which an attorney reviews the client’s assets and implements a plan to ensure the proper management and distribution of the client’s assets upon […]
A Last Will and Testament is the legal document where you set out how your assets will be distributed and how your dependents will be cared for after you die. A Last Will and Testament is frequently the centerpiece of an Estate Plan. A person who dies with a will is said to have died […]
Question: My mother lives in her paid off home in Michigan but also owns real estate in other states as well. How would her Probate be handled? When this type of situation happens you will usually have to open probate in each state. Probate is the process by which a court grants an executor, personal […]
The one estate planning document that everyone 18 and older should have is an Advance Health-Care Directive. It is not the sexiest tool in the estate planning toolbox, but can head off family strife, heartache, and needless attorney’s fees in ways that no other document can. The names Karen Ann Quinlan, Nancy Cruzan, and Terri Schiavo […]
It is a common misunderstanding that elder law is only for the elderly and that only wealthy people in the latter part of their lives should take up estate planning. But neither is true. Everyone has an estate — it just depends on what is a part of it. Elder law is an area of […]
In a recent column in the New York Times, physician-author Danielle Ofri described an incident in which she and another doctor were examining a patient with Alzheimer’s. “A fate worse than death,” the other doctor murmured. Dr. Ofri, too, felt uncomfortable. She felt that there was something almost shameful in bearing witness to a fellow […]
Making plans to give your heirs a financial inheritance can be an overwhelming process for any individual. While most people want to make sure their heirs are well taken care of, there are always concerns with giving a family member, child or grandchild a sizeable amount of money. This is especially true for anyone who […]
Should I Obtain Help to File a VA Benefit Claim? Filing a claim for VA disability benefits is a complicated process, even when the claims seem straightforward. Even though the VA makes basic claims forms available, we highly recommend that anyone making a benefit claim obtain assistance and guidance from an accredited attorney, claims agent […]
You may be afraid of losing your home if you have to enter a nursing home and apply for Medicaid. While this fear is well-founded, transferring the home to your children is usually not the best way to protect it. Although you generally do not have to sell your home in order to qualify for […]
Life Care Planning is a specialty within elder law emerging around the country that takes a holistic view of every aspect of caring for someone with a chronic illness. We were the first Long Island elder law firm to integrate the Life Care Plan model into its practice and have done so since 2009. While […]
Many individuals are unaware that if they require long-term care, such care is only covered by Medicare or other primary health insurance for a short time. For example, Medicare may cover up to 100 days of nursing home care so long as the patient needs skilled care. However, if that patient requires care beyond Medicare’s […]
Since 1993 it has been public policy in New York State to allow parents (or other relatives) of a disabled child to set up a trust for their inheritance which will not disqualify them from government benefits, such as Social Security and Medicaid. The reasoning behind these supplemental needs trusts is simple — prior to […]
When a family loses a loved one, the grieving process is difficult under any circumstances. Family members should be able to focus solely on supporting and consoling each other. Unfortunately, even while the family continues to grieve their loss, they also face the task of making sure that their loved one’s financial affairs are put […]
After staying the same for five years, the amount you can give away to any one individual in a particular year without reporting the gift will increase in 2018. The annual gift tax exclusion for 2018 is rising from $14,000 to $15,000. This means that any person who gives away $15,000 or less to any one individual […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is increasing the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2018 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 that they, along with other unreimbursed medical expenses (including Medicare premiums), exceed 10 percent of […]