1 – I cannot give away anything and qualify for Medicaid.
This is a complicated area of the law and readers should consult with a knowledgeable elder law attorney before they transfer their assets. Although transfers between spouses are exempt, transfers to persons other than spouses usually subject the donor to penalties that result in periods of ineligibility for Medicaid.» Read More
A recent national study found that half of the families that care for a loved one with a disability have not made plans for the future. That is likely to have devastating effects, as three-quarters of Americans with disabilities live with a family caregiver, and one-quarter of those caregivers are sixty or older.» Read More
It’s that time of year: holiday music, traffic, and annual pilgrimages to see faraway family members. For many of us, this is the first time we have seen those family members in two years. Covid has necessitated prolonged isolation that has impacted the mental health and cognitive status of many older adults. » Read More
The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to present this Special Needs Spotlight Webinar Series. In the fifth session, “Creating a Letter of Intent and a Life Plan,” Abbey M. Horwitz, a Member of the firm, spoke with Elizabeth McKenna, CFP and Chartered Special Needs Consultant of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and Heidi Rome, internationally-recognized expert on the autism journey for mothers, Autism Mom Coach, and founder of Moms Spectrum Oasis.» Read More
The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to present the Special Needs Spotlight Webinar Series. In this introductory session, “Taking Control – Harnessing Anxiety and Turning it Into a Plan,” Shana Siegel, a Member of the firm and Chair of its Elder Care & Special Needs Law Practice Group, spoke with Trish Colucci Barbosa, RN and Care Manager at Peace Aging Care Experts, LLC, and Elizabeth McKenna, CFP and Chartered Special Needs Consultant at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.» Read More
Every parent of a child with special needs worries about what will happen if (or when) they predecease their child. But a story I read last weekend sent chills up my spine. It was about a mother in Bergen County who died from the coronavirus, leaving her 30-year-old son with Down syndrome.» Read More
We recently had a new client come to see us regarding life care planning at the urging of her children. She was the primary caregiver for her husband who has advanced dementia and needs 24-hour care. She was in good health and felt she was managing well for the moment but was interested in beginning a discussion about what her options would be if his care needs increased or if something happened to her.» Read More