Author Archives: Site Administrator
Does Your Estate Plan Include Your Pets?
Estate planning helps to create a strategy for managing assets while we are living and their distribution when we pass away. That includes determining what happens to our tangible property as well as financial investments, retirement accounts, etc. An estate plan can also be used to protect the well-being of our beloved companion animals,… Read More »
I Want to Make a Generous Gift but the Taxes?
That’s the short answer to the question, which is often asked in a roundabout manner: “How much am I allowed to gift?” There are more details in the complete answer, as reported in The Mercury’s article, “Can I gift more than $15, 000?” You can gift as much as you wish, to whomever you… Read More »
Just How Do Those Transfer on Death Accounts Work?
Most estates where the decedent left a Last Will and Testament will still go to probate court. While probate is not a complex procedure in some states, in others it is an expensive headache. In Massachusetts, the implementation of the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code in March 2012 was envisioned to streamline and simplify the… Read More »
Estate Planning Can Solve Problems Before They Happen
Creating an estate plan, with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney, can help people gain clarity on larger issues, like who should inherit the family home, and small details, like what to do with the personal items that none of the children want. Until you go through the process of mapping out… Read More »
Planning for the Impact of Medicaid
One of the most complicated and fear-inducing aspects of Medicaid is the financial eligibility. The rules for the cost of long-term care are complicated and can be difficult to understand. This is especially true when the Medicaid applicant is married, reports Delco Times in the article “Medicaid–Protecting Assets for a Spouse.” Generally speaking, to… Read More »
What Should I Do When Alzheimer’s Strikes a Family Member?
Alzheimer’s Disease International predicts that 44 million individuals worldwide have Alzheimer’s or a similar form of dementia, and 25% of those living with it never receive a diagnosis. Newsmax’s recent article, “5 Insurance Steps After Alzheimer’s Strikes Loved One” says that although the patient may not yet need one-on-one care, the day will come…. Read More »
What are the Differences Between Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement?
It can be hard to find a good doctor who accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients, but there are valid reasons for the medical profession’s hesitance in treating patients with these forms of coverage. If you had to change doctors or noticed a change in how you get treated after you enrolled in Medicare or… Read More »
What Do I Really Need to Know About Trusts?
A trust is an agreement between two parties, the settlor and a trustee. Trusts may be used for many purposes, and one is for the trustee to accept, manage and protect assets delivered by the settlor, administer those assets according to the trust’s instructions and distribute the trust income and principal, according to the… Read More »
Why is an Advance Directive so Important with Dementia?
The Roanoke Times advises in the recent article “What to do in absence of advance directive” to talk to an experienced elder care attorney to coordinate the necessary legal issues, when dementia may be at issue with a parent or other loved one. Next, ask your physician for a geriatric evaluation consultation for your… Read More »
Do I Qualify for Medicare if I Get Medicaid?
If you are a Medicaid recipient, you might be wondering do I qualify for Medicare if I get Medicaid? Being enrolled in Medicaid does not automatically make you eligible for Medicare. You will have to meet the Medicare program requirements to enroll in that system of benefits. Medicare and Medicaid have different qualification requirements,… Read More »