About Medicaid Planning and Asset Protection

Elder Law is a unique practice area not focusing on a particular area of Law like most lawyers but rather on a particular subset of our population. The elderly or aging parent, spouse, relative or close friend.

When care needs begin to arise for a loved one, most people do not know where to turn for advice or assistance. Even more importantly, very few even consider consulting with an Elder Law Attorney when a person is about to enter into a Nursing Home or is already a resident in a facility. Many people ( spouses or children ) are so emotionally overwhelmed by possibly relocating a loved one to a nursing facility, coupled with financial concerns, and sometimes with guilt, that they do not avail themselves of essential legal advice that can result in the protection of either ALL the assets of the family OR a very significant portion of those assets from having to be spent on the costs of a nursing home. What most do not understand is that Medicaid eligibility can often times be “accelerated” to make a loved one eligible much sooner for Government benefits that pay for Nursing Home care. Many have heard that the “5 year look-back rule” will prevent protecting assets if a person is currently in a facility, or about to enter one and did not do any planning 5 years ago. This is a FASLEHOOD. It is never too late to plan and protect monies. But the sooner planning is initiated the more assets which can be protected.

Medicaid Planning and Asset Protection Planning involves the use of various legal strategies to allocate assets and income and to protect monies for a spouse who remains at home OR protect a large portion of a family’s hard earned “nest egg” for the children. Having the proper legal documents in place ( or prepared ) can also be critical.

I practice in Stark, Summit, Portage and Medina Counties regularly but have also assisted clients in Wayne and Tuscarawas counties.

I am glad to meet with clients at the Nursing Home or Residence.