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In recent years a number of non-lawyers have started businesses offering Medicaid planning services to seniors. While using one of these services may be cheaper than hiring a lawyer, the overall costs may be far greater. If you use a non-lawyer to do Medicaid planning, the person offering services may […]

All of us join in wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year! In observance of the Holiday Season, The Elder Law Center of Kirson & Fuller will be closed starting Friday, December 23rd. Our office will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday, January […]

Your will is a legally-binding statement directing who will receive your property at your death. It also appoints a legal representative to carry out your wishes. However, the will covers only probate property. (Probate is the court process by which a deceased person’s property is passed to his or her […]

For most people, receiving an inheritance is something good, but for a nursing home resident on Medicaid, an inheritance may not be such welcome news. Medicaid has strict income and resource limits, so an inheritance can make a Medicaid recipient ineligible for Medicaid. Careful planning is necessary to make sure […]

When loved ones pass away, there are lots of considerations, including what happens to their Social Security. The decedent’s payments need to be stopped, but survivor’s benefits may be available to the spouse or, in certain cases, children.  Social Security benefits stop at death. If a loved one who was […]

Leaving a nursing home to return home is a goal for many residents and their families, but it requires careful consideration. While returning home is a good move for some, it won’t work for everyone. A nursing home stay does not have to be permanent. Many residents enter a facility […]

Navigating the Medicaid application process can be complicated, especially if you are applying for long-term care benefits. Hiring an attorney to help you through the process can be extremely helpful.  Whether you should prepare and file a Medicaid application by yourself or should hire help depends on answers to the following […]

No parents want their children to fight among themselves after they are gone. Sadly, conflicts often arise, especially when a parent has gifted or loaned money to one child and not others. However, a few key words in your estate plan can minimize the potential for conflict. If you give […]

Prepaying for your funeral is one way to ease the burden on your family following your death and make sure your wishes are carried out. But pre-paid funeral plans come with risks, so you need to exercise care when purchasing a plan.  Funerals are expensive and can take a lot […]

Starting Tuesday, December 6th visitors to SSA.gov will experience a fresh homepage and a new design to help them find what they need more easily. “SSA.gov is visited by over 180 million people per year and it is one of our most important tools for providing efficient and equitable access […]