Articles
A Medicaid Trust Helps People Qualify For Medicaid Benefits
A Medicaid Trust, also known as a “Miller Trust” or “QIT”, helps someone who wants access to Medicaid benefits when that person’s income exceeds the income cap. And the typical person looking to do this is an elderly or disabled adult trying to access affordable...
What Is A Homestead In Texas?
What is considered a homestead in Texas can have a very big effect on your estate planning needs as well as many other aspects of your life. The Texas Constitution lets a person establish a homestead which is basically a certain piece of real estate that is exempted...
A Lady Bird Deed Protects A Home From Medicaid Recovery
I have counseled several clients to use a what is called a Lady Bird Deed to protect a home from Medicaid recovery. [also see What Is A Transfer on Death Deed] The typical situation is that a parent or other loved one is elderly and has become so sick with an ailment...
Dying Without A Will Causes Unnecessary Stress And Wastes Family Money
I have written about dying without a will before, but I've had two particular clients contact me with difficult stories that I wanted to share on this subject. In both cases, a simple, inexpensive will created by an estate planning attorney could have saved the...
Testamentary Trusts Are Powerful Estate Planning Tools
Testamentary trusts are powerful estate planning tools that every estate planning attorney should discuss with their clients. When most people think of trusts, they think of something that is completely separate from a will. A testamentary trust is actually a trust...
Helping a Loved One Tackle Difficult Financial Decisions After the Death of a Spouse
The death of a spouse may leave an elderly individual feeling lost and wondering which way to turn for help. It’s an emotionally devastating experience, and an elderly person who’s spent a lifetime being responsible for others may feel as though everything has to be...
Getting A Will Should Be One Of Your Top New Year’s Resolutions
Getting a will these days is incredibly easy, yet it’s amazing to me how many people still don’t have one. And if they do have one it was created many years ago when their estate planning needs were very different than they are now. With attorneys now offering online...
The Major Differences Between A Power Of Attorney And A Will
The major differences between a power of attorney and a will are often not understood by my clients when they first contact me. Both are very important documents when it comes to estate planning. In many ways they are the most important documents of someone’s estate...
Tips On How to Prepare For Your Long-Term Care Needs
When considering the possibility of long-term care, many people prefer to tell themselves they won’t need it. However, the reality is that two-thirds of adults will require some form of long-term care. Meanwhile, others know they may need it but feel like they’ll be...
Making End-of-Life Discussions as Painless and Productive as Possible
End-of-life discussions with a loved one are never easy. However, those talks can provide comfort to you both when final days become reality. Here is important advice for opening those conversations about the inevitable. Start talking early Even if it’s...