I was visiting my grandmother in her nursing home, and I had an epiphany as I watched the residents have their lunch. Most of the residents could not walk without a wheelchair or walker. Some could not feed themselves. Some – like my grandmother – were a choking...
ELG Estate Planning Blog
What Can You Do When A Friend Loses Capacity?
Throughout all of this, though I was able to call and report my concerns, I had no right to know what was actually being done on my neighbor’s behalf.
What is the Washington Death with Dignity Act?
In 2008, Washington became the second state to adopt the "Death with Dignity Act." Under this act, medical doctors and osteopathic physicians must prescribe terminally ill patients lethal doses of medication upon request. Of course, there are restrictions to the law,...
Special Needs Trusts
If you have a child who has special needs and is unable to care for themselves because of those needs, you may be interested in setting up a Special Needs Trust. Otherwise known as a Supplemental Needs Trust or an SNT, a Special Needs Trust is designed to ensure that...
Protecting Assets and Qualifying for Medicaid
In our last article, Current Medicaid Standards for Washington, we listed the requirements that must be met in order to qualify for Medicaid Long-Term Care government benefits as of January 2019 for Washington Residents. These benefits pay for Long-Term Care costs....
Current Medicaid Standards for Washington
Medicaid is a great resource for paying for Long-Term Care, but the rules are complex and change frequently. So what are the current Medicaid standards?
Probate in Washington Explained
Probate is probably the most misunderstood area of Estate Planning. It’s often thought of as something you should avoid at all costs. This is for good reason, if you don’t have a good Estate Plan or if you live in a state where Probate is complex, expensive and...
What is a Durable Power of Attorney?
Establishing Powers of Attorney is very important, but isn’t something that you should try to tackle on your own. Let’s talk a little about what a Durable Power of Attorney is and why it’s important. What is a Durable Power of Attorney? A Durable Power...
Changes Are Coming to VA Aid and Attendance Benefits. Does it Affect You?
VA Aid and Attendance benefits help qualified veterans and their surviving single spouses pay for Long-Term Care costs. New rules will go into effect on October 18th, 2018 that could prevent veterans from getting the help they need. In order to qualify for VA Aid and...
Understanding Power of Attorney in Washington State
Washington, like most states, can grant individuals the power to make decisions on a person's behalf if they are physically or mentally incapable of doing so. This is done via a document called the power of attorney. The scope of such a document can only allow an...