How Much Will Long-Term Care Cost?
The most commonly asked question of seniors in regards to long-term care needs "How much will long-term care cost?" Typically, followed by "How will we pay for long-term care?" It...
Medicaid Planning With Annuities
An annuity is a contract between you and your insurance company in which you agree to pay your insurance company a specified monetary amount and the company agrees to send...
What to Do With an Inherited IRA- Cleveland Elder Law Attorney
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are savings plans that allow you set aside money for retirement. Contributions to a traditional IRA are tax deductible, but contributions to a Roth IRA are...
Social Security Benefits for Spouses and Children- Cleveland Elder Law Attorney
In addition to retirement benefits, Social Security also provides benefits for spouses, dependent children, grandchildren and ex-spouses. Below is a brief summary of these benefits. Survivor's Benefits. If your spouse...
Where to Get Help When Caregiving Becomes Overwhelming- Cleveland Elder Law Attorney
Caregiving is an admirable job, but over time the task can become daunting. Fortunately, there are private and public agencies you can reach out to for assistance, including: Home health...
What is the Difference Between a Trust and a Will?
A trust and a will are two legal documents that no estate plan should be without, yet they serve entirely different functions. Both documents work together to ensure your wishes...
When You Should Update Your Estate Plan- Cleveland Elder Law Attorney
Certain life events necessitate making an appointment with your elder law attorney to review and update your estate plan. These events are: Increase or Decrease in Assets. Your estate may...
Ways to Spend Down Assets to Qualify for Medicaid – Cleveland Elder Law Attorney
Medicaid is jointly funded state and federal health insurance program to help low-income individuals receive medical care and defray the cost of prescription drugs. The program also provides benefits Medicare...
Estate Planning When Step-Family is Involved
A recent court case shed light on the importance of taking not only current family relationships into consideration when planning your estate, but also potential step-relatives that may join your...
How a Spouse’s Death Effects Medicaid Eligibility
No one expects the spouse of a nursing home resident to die before the resident, but it can and does happen. If no plan was put in place beforehand, a...
What are Medical Directives?
A medical directive, also referred to as an advance directive, is a directive that typically accompanies a health care proxy, but it may also be a separate document. A medical...
How to Qualify for SSI After Transferring Assets
A person who receives a monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit is allowed to have up to $2,000 in countable assets ($3,000 for a married couple). If you have more...