What is the Spousal Transfer Exception? When applying for Medicaid Nursing Home Care, there is no transfer penalty for any asset transfers between spouses. The Medicaid Applicant Spouse will not be denied Medicaid benefits as a result of any asset…
Make documents accessible to those who need them. Henry was a very private man. He did not discuss his estate plan with his children. Henry's children, Barbara and Sam, believed that they needed to be frugal to make ends meet. Henry never…
Well, many lessons have been learned from Hurricane Sandy. To state the obvious, preparedness can make the difference between a disaster and an inconvenience. For many this was a first time experience filing an insurance claim. The lesson learned is…
Estate planning is often viewed as a "one-and-done" task—a matter of simply signing a Will and putting it in a drawer. However, a truly effective plan requires careful coordination and ongoing maintenance. Even with a signed Will, simple oversights in…
What is a Durable Power-of-Attorney? This document allows you to appoint an agent to handle your financial affairs if you are unable to handle those affairs yourself (either physically or mentally). Do I have to be declared incompetent for my…
Title assets properly. Margaret, a widow, married Sam. She owned her home and upon her demise, she wanted her home sold and the sale proceeds left to her three children. She also wanted to avoid probate so she added her husband's name…
As difficult as it may be, we try our best as parents to teach our children to be self-sufficient and ambitious. We want them to be ready to face the world when they finally spread their wings. But despite the…
It’s true what they say, "there’s no place like home." Most seniors understand the truth in that saying and want to live at home. Unfortunately some seniors who have difficulties with certain activities of daily living may need some help…
We work hard to make sure our young children are safe, happy and healthy. We look in to their eyes and feel an innate need to ensure their well-being. We take them to the doctors at the earliest sign of…
Trusts are a common and popular part of many estate plans. However, despite the commonplace of trusts some people do not understand how some of these trusts work and therefore feel they do not have a need for one. Trusts…