It’s hard to imagine the fact that you may at some point in your life be unable to make your own medical decisions. However, by taking the necessary time to plan ahead, you can ensure that your wishes are granted every step of the way. Our elder law attorneys at Elder...
ELG Estate Planning Blog
Advance Care Planning in Nursing Homes
The OPTIMIST project is an initiative developed by a team of researchers from the Indiana University Schools of Nursing and Medicine, and the Regenstrief Institute, who have implemented the project in many nursing homes. The goal of the initiative is to optimize...
Do I Really Need a Health Care Directive or Living Will?
No one likes to think about being unable to consent to medical treatment or being otherwise unable to communicate with your health care providers about your medical care. Likewise, no one enjoys the process of making end-of-life decisions, many of which are extremely...
What is the Difference Between Healthcare and Financial Durable Powers of Attorney?
Powers of attorney allow you to appoint a spouse, relative, or trusted friend as your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact” in order to make decisions about healthcare or financial matters on your behalf. These legal documents allow your agent to sign documents, make...
Is a Revocable Living Trust Right for Me?
A revocable living trust is a written agreement in which an individual, known as the trustor, appoints a trustee and sets forth how the assets of the trust are managed, both during the trustor’s lifetime and after the trustor passes away. Essentially, the trustor...
What is the COPES Program and How Can It Help Me?
The Community Options Program Entry System (COPES) is a Washington state Medicaid program. COPES is designed to allow individuals who require Long-Term Care to receive the necessary care while residing in their homes or other community living environments, such as...
My Spouse Needs to Enter a Nursing Home. How Can I Pay for Her Care and Still Keep My Home?
The costs of nursing home care are extremely high, and it can be difficult to finance nursing home care for a spouse for any length of time. As a result, many individuals who are entering nursing homes look to Medicaid for financial assistance with the costs of their...
How Can We Plan for Our Future Long-Term Care Needs?
Choosing and funding Long-Term Care can be one of the most difficult decisions that you ever make, whether it is necessary for you, your spouse, or both spouses. Despite a wide range of options, the costs of Long-Term Care are inevitably very high. This is why taking...
When Your Parent Can No Longer Handle His or Her Financial Affairs
Whether incapacity arises as a result of illness, medical condition, or accident, it can happen very quickly and when you least expect it. As a result, you should have a frank conversation with your family, and especially your parent or parents, about how he or she...
Fundamentals of Asset Protection Estate Planning
While the goal of most Estate Planning is to simplify matters for your heirs by eliminating the need for probate proceedings and minimize or eliminate applicable taxes, asset protection Estate Planning takes a more comprehensive approach to the disposition of your...