Posted by Andrew Byers | Dec 08, 2018 |
What to do? Plan ahead! There are several ways to provide for your special needs dependent and stay within government guidelines for additional benefits. One of the best ways is to establish a special needs trust that has the specific purpose of supplementing federal and state assistance programs. By doing so, a disabled loved one can benefit from government programs, and have additional money to supplement what those programs provide.
There are strict rules when it comes to creating special needs trusts for a disabled family member. There are also restrictions on what the money can be used for. We can help you determine what type of trust is best based on you and your loved one’s particular circumstances. Give us a call at your convenience to set up a time to discuss your situation further.
Posted by Andrew Byers | Nov 29, 2018 |
According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer's affects a growing number of peopl...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Nov 29, 2018 |
As part of my elder law practice, I help seniors and their families to prevent the devastating financial consequences that can result from Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.
Posted by Andrew Byers | Nov 19, 2018 |
You may think your living will is in order, including instructions regarding resuscitation commonly referred to as a DNR (do not resuscitate). While your wishes in a living will may be appropriately documented, that does not guarantee the instructions will be carried out as you stated. The unfort...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Nov 19, 2018 |
As an estate planning and elder law attorney, I can help you determine which documents best suit your current needs, and help you clearly state your wishes in those documents. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you with these important planning steps.
Posted by Andrew Byers | Nov 01, 2018 |
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released new eligibility rules for the VA pension program. VA pension, a tax-free monthly cash benefit, is available to wartime Veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty service with 1 day during a declared period of war. Surviving spouse...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Oct 24, 2018 |
In general, a trust is created when property or assets are managed by a person for another person's benefit. The person or entity who manages the trust is known as the “trustee” and is entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions in the best interest of the person who benefits from the t...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Oct 17, 2018 |
A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It allows someone who you appoint (your agent or attorney-in-fact) to make decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated. If you have not appointed an agent then your friends and fami...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Sep 26, 2018 |
VA pension benefits, also known as Aid and Attendance, are an important resource for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who have high home care and assisted living costs. For example, in Michigan, assisted living can cost about $2,500.00 to $6,000.00 per month. Married veterans could re...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Sep 19, 2018 |
Your parent is getting on in age, but you don't have a clear idea if there is a plan in place for their care. It is a difficult topic to broach; no one wants to talk about getting older and the financial realities that come with aging. Instead of having a proactive conversation early in a parent'...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Sep 07, 2018 |
When someone you love, in particular, your spouse, becomes ill you want to help them get well. But what happens when the illness is dementia? A marital relationship that could have spanned years or decades becomes subject to enormous change, and that change is not a slow linear progression of pre...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Aug 29, 2018 |
Long-term care insurance is very beneficial for the elderly or disabled person who need will services or support to meet their personal care or health needs. However, it is important to understand long-term care insurance before the time comes when the benefits are needed. Unfortunately, many peo...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Jul 29, 2018 |
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care can be very difficult for families to come to terms with, but can be a beneficial care option for those caring for a terminally ill loved one. The purpose of hospice care is to provide comfort and quality of life for a terminally ill person. Hospice care can a...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Jul 23, 2018 |
Many elderly people who are diagnosed with dementia are unprepared for future care. Once this type of diagnosis is received, preparing for the future can no longer be avoided. If you or someone you love has received a dementia diagnosis, begin immediately to discuss and seek guidance for future c...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Jul 09, 2018 |
The importance of making end of life preparations cannot be stressed enough. Many put off making these plans thinking there is always time to do it later. The sad reality is that none of us are guaranteed time. Others may be bothered by the thought of death itself and allow this to paralyze them ...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Jun 21, 2018 |
Long term care (LTC) is a term that has many parts to its definition. It is comprised of a variety of services that meet medical and non-medical requirements for people who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time. It is a highly individualized care system which can be formally or info...
Posted by Andrew Byers | May 31, 2018 |
Jane lived alone in her home in Troy after her husband died and the kids moved away. A few years later, she started to forget things, like putting the kettle on to boil and coming back to find the stove on fire. This, together with her diabetes and osteoporosis, seemed to Jane's daughter Carolyn ...
Posted by Andrew Byers | May 16, 2018 |
Jack and Doris wanted to divide their property equally between their three children. The house should to go to daughter Mary who loved it, and the rest of their estate should be apportioned equally between sons Bob and Frank.
Jack and Doris's attorney drafted a will distributing the modest remai...
Posted by Andrew Byers | May 08, 2018 |
Harry and Wanda got married late in life. This was their second marriage, and both had children from the prior marriages. The couple wanted their children to inherit from their respective parents, so Harry and Wanda signed a prenuptial agreement to keep their property clearly separated.
Unfortun...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Apr 25, 2018 |
Ruth lived alone after her husband died. Soon her son Ted noticed that she didn't have enough clean clothes, her fridge was empty, and she had fallen a few times.
Clearly if Ruth were going to stay at home – and who wouldn't rather do that, if possible – she would need help. Ted was willing to m...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Apr 13, 2018 |
Generally, a "pooled trust" holds assets for people that have a disability, and/or elderly individuals. The trust is established and run by a not-for-profit organization, which will establish separate accounts for each individual within their system. However, the money of all of the individuals s...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Apr 12, 2018 |
Medicare and Medicaid have long been a mystery to many consumers. In fact, it can baffle and confuse even some of the smartest citizens. Like many, you might have thought, “I don't need to worry about this right now.” However, it is never too early to gain a little understanding and awareness tha...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Mar 28, 2018 |
When a loved one starts to lose his or her memory, it can be a struggle for the entire family. The person who has been the head of the family may soon fade from the person they once were, leaving their loved ones to wonder what will come next. The stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease has a ...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Mar 26, 2018 |
Long term care insurance was sold aggressively in the 1980s, 90s and thereafter to offset the costs of seniors needing to live in a nursing home, assisted living or needing at home health care. Now, however, the business of long term care insurance has dramatically changed. What was once over 100...
Posted by Andrew Byers | Mar 03, 2018 |
Estate planning is important for people of all ages, but as we age, the need for planning becomes even more critical. Many people avoid estate planning, because they do not want to think about the end of life, failing health or disability. Others believe that an estate plan is only for rich peopl...