Estate planning is not a “one and done” process. Even the best laid estate plans can and do become obsolete as things change in our lives. They need regular maintenance to ensure they continue to provide the best protection possible for the testator him or herself and the loved ones left behind. For example, you may have a current will that leaves the majority of your belongings to your spouse. A divorce later, Read More

To meet federal requirements, nursing home facilities must undergo premises inspection and respond to standardized surveys at least once every 15 months. As reported by Georgia Public Broadcasting, the Peach State ranks second to last in conducting the required inspections of its nursing homes. As of May 31, 2021, at least 90% of Georgia’s nursing homes have failed to comply and no trained survey teams have performed Read More

One of the most important reasons to create a special needs trust for your child is to ensure that his or her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits remain protected. In the event that your child receives a large inheritance, this can disqualify them from SSI. In essence, a special needs trust allows your child to rely on SSI monies for essentials like clothing, food, shelter and medical care. The special needs Read More

You love your child, and you want their inheritance to provide them with a comfortable life. However, if you do not entirely trust your child’s spouse — whether because their marriage has gone through recent challenges or because of financial issues — you may want to take additional steps to protect those assets. What can you do to protect your child’s inheritance from their spouse? Speak to your child about a Read More

If you do any amount of research for elder law or estate planning, you will see terms such as “crisis” and “long-term planning.”  Though both of these terms apply to elder law, they represent different situations and needs. Even people new to elder law should understand how these two terms are used because they can impact how you plan now. What Is A Crisis? In terms of elder law, a crisis is when you have to plan for Read More

If you have elderly parents, you should understand the difference between nursing homes and assisted living facilities. While nursing homes offer skilled medical care, assisted living facilities tend only to help with basic needs, such as bathing or eating. You do not want to place your aging parents into the wrong facility, of course. Fortunately, watching for some signs may tell you when it is time to move your Read More

Watching a close relative decline in health or mental ability can be painful, perhaps made worse because you know you may have to ask a court to appoint a guardian for your loved one. Establishing guardianship means removing rights from your relative. However, you may not know that you can limit how much power a guardian can have. The Hall County website explains what to do if you want to make sure your loved Read More

A Medicaid spend down centers on people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. The question quickly shifts to why someone would want to have less money. And why would anyone do so for Medicaid? Why Someone Would Do A Spend Down This comes down to long-term care and assisted living, e.g., nursing home and retirement communities. With the high costs of both things, people who need these may find themselves in Read More

Special needs adults may need help in some areas. While you may plan on assisting your child, someone else may need to fill this role if something happens to you. You may want to consider appointing a guardian. According to the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, a guardian has the ability to choose where your child will live and what kind of medical treatment he or she will receive. Assigning a legal Read More

Medicaid planning is complex, and navigating it with your loved one may be frustrating. The application process is time-consuming, so understanding the planning process is essential if you want to get your loved ones the care they deserve. To save yourself unnecessary stress, consider starting early and working with a professional to ensure your loved ones have the financial resources they need. Financial Read More