When you are making a last will and testament, you must choose someone who will carry out the wishes that are expressed in that final document. This person is called the executor of the will. If an executor is not named in your will, or if the person named...
ELG Estate Planning Blog
Early Dementia and Financial Reality
Dementia, which most commonly occurs in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Disease, can be a slow-progressing condition or can cause an almost immediate change in your life. A diagnosis of this magnitude can disrupt even the most comprehensive of retirement plans, and...
What Should I Bring When I First Meet with My Elder Law Attorney?
Elder law attorneys focus their practices specifically on creating comprehensive plans for seniors, disabled persons, and those concerned about asset protection. Although elder law attorneys do perform Estate Planning services, they also go beyond these basic services...
What Medical Services Are Subject to Washington’s Estate Recovery Laws?
Federal law requires that all states have estate recovery laws in place, which permit states to recoup some or all of their Medicaid Long-Term Care and medical services expenditures by placing liens on the estate of the deceased Medicaid recipients. Traditionally,...
What is the Aid and Attendance Pension for Veterans?
Veterans and their surviving spouses who are eligible for a VA pension may be entitled to “Aid and Attendance” in some cases. This monthly amount is in addition to any VA pension amount that a veteran is already receiving. Plus, since Aid and Attendance is an...
Can I Establish a Supplemental Needs Trust for My Surviving Spouse?
You can establish a supplemental needs trust for your spouse or child in order to provide for him or her following your death. Where you family member must rely on government benefits programs, such as Medicaid and Supplement Security Income (SSI), giving funds...
What is the Difference Between a Probate and Non-Probate Asset?
Probate refers to the legal process by which a person’s assets, or “estate,” are distributed to heirs or beneficiaries following his or her death. If the deceased individual has a Will, it is admitted to probate by the court, which then appoints a Personal...
Is an Annuity Right for Me?
If you are facing an immediate need for Long-Term Care for you or your spouse, and you have only a moderate amount of income and/or assets, it is likely that you will need to rely on the Medicaid program, at least in part, in order to finance Long-Term Care services....
What Kinds of Insurance Pay for Long-Term Care?
Long-Term Care encompasses a whole range of medical and personal care services that may be increasingly necessary as you age. These services can be as simple as minor assistance with activities of daily living, or as complex as 24-hour skilled nursing care. Whatever...
Do I Need Both an Advance Directive and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions?
An Advance Directive and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions both are legal documents that address your wishes with respect to future healthcare and medical treatment. However, they are two separate documents: the first states your end-of-life...