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

If electing to place your elderly parent in a nursing home is the most difficult decision you have faced recently, picking the right facility is undoubtedly a close second. After all, not all nursing homes provide the same level of care. When you are searching for the perfect nursing home, you can probably narrow your choices by referring to Medicare’s nursing home ratings. Eventually, though, you should tour all Read More

Putting your loved one in a nursing home is a difficult choice. This person will likely feel upset since you moved him or her from the house he or she lived in for decades into an unfamiliar place. Be patient and understand that the transition period will not last forever. Helping your loved one adjust to a new normal is the best thing to do when he or she moves into a nursing home. 1. Bring some familiar items There Read More

Asset titling is a crucial part of your estate plan. Appropriate titles can help you ensure that your assets and investments get distributed in the way you intend, whereas careless titling or mistakes can have unintended consequences. Per J.P. Morgan, asset tilting simply refers to the way in which you own an asset. You can own it individually, jointly or indirectly, such as through a trust. Titling can affect the Read More

Baby boomers are the largest population group in the U.S. Most of you are healthy, vibrant and not ready to retire. However, it is not too soon to provide for the protection of your hard-earned assets. Reasons for postponing estate planning may include apprehension of the expense and a reminder of one’s mortality. Learning the facts about estate planning in Georgia may enable you to thoroughly examine your options, Read More

If you become incapacitated because of a stroke or as the result of injuries from a serious accident, how do you communicate with medical personnel? Perhaps you have a living will or durable power of attorney (POA) for healthcare, but are they valid in Georgia? The laws about advance directives in this state have changed. Changes in the Code As of June 30, 2007, the Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care Act went Read More

Even if you or your loved one has a robust income or a high level of assets, long-term care has the power to quickly erode an estate’s assets. This is especially true when a person needs skilled nursing care for a long period of time. You can increase the chances of preserving a legacy by implementing a few proven strategies. The role of long-term care insurance U.S. News & World Report states that more than half Read More