Are My Assets Protected If My Husband Has to Go on Medicaid?

Question: My husband has no assets in his name; everything is in my name. His only income is Social Security. He has long-term care insurance that will last approximately six years. Would he be eligible for Medicaid at that point? (And are my assets protected?)...

Understanding Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Spousal Impoverishment

The prospect of long-term care often brings with it many financial concerns. As we experience our declining health or that of an aging family member, we begin to realize that long-term care needs at home or in a facility could be necessary. When looking into local...

The Probate Process: A General Timeline

Probate is the legal process of formally recognizing a will after a person dies, naming or validating an executor to administer the estate, and distributing assets to intended beneficiaries. It also requires paying the decedent’s outstanding debts and federal and...

New CMS Rule: Nursing Homes Must Have Minimum Number of Staff

Understaffing threatens the nation’s 1.2 million nursing home residents. Residents who do not receive the care they need can experience falls, dehydration, malnutrition, and bedsores. They are also more vulnerable to abuse and neglect. A historic nursing shortage is...

States With the Highest and Lowest Assisted Living Costs

Today, 58 million adults in the United States are 65 and older. Seniors make up more than 17 percent of the American population. The U.S. Census Bureau expects this number to reach 83.7 million by 2050. Meanwhile, one in every seven older adults will at some point...

What Is the Connection Between Elder Law & Special Needs Planning?

Elder law and special needs planning share some common ground, particularly in terms of legal and financial issues related to vulnerable populations. Here are some connections between the two: Legal Protections: Both elder law and special needs planning law involve...

Proactive Planning of Your Estate

Proactive planning of a person’s estate refers to the process of arranging and organizing one’s assets and affairs during their lifetime with the intention of ensuring that their wishes are carried out effectively after their death or incapacitation. This...

Planning for Children and Adult Children With Special Needs

Individuals with special needs may have a developmental disorder, such as autism, ADHD, or Asperger’s syndrome. They may have an intellectual disability such as Down syndrome. Or, perhaps they have a learning disability such as dyslexia or physical impairments...