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Please Click HerePosted on November 14, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
It is common for a client whose spouse is receiving Medicaid to lack adequate estate planning to protect those Medicaid benefits in the event the client dies before their spouse. Yet, after all of the time and energy spent to qualify for Medicaid, it would be awful to see those benefits lost simply because proper […]
Posted on October 9, 2019 by Shanna N. Fink
It seems like our world becomes more digital each day. We can manage almost every aspect of our lives online. But, unless you have updated your estate plan in the last few years, chances are good that your estate planning documents do not address what will happen to your electronic documents, e-mails, text messages, blogs, […]
Posted on August 28, 2019 by Jessica A. Merkel
Leaving an inheritance to a loved one with special needs who is or will be receiving government benefits (SSI, medical assistance, long term care services) is tricky and can have unintended negative consequences if not done carefully. Well-meaning gifts may result in the loved one (who I will refer to as the “Special Needs Beneficiary”) […]
Posted on July 17, 2019 by Ashley L. Hawley
As our aging population grows so does the cost of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-home care services. Contrary to popular belief, Medicare will only cover certain short-term stays and typically will not cover non-rehabilitative long-term care. This leaves many elderly and disabled individuals with few options for covering costs. Often, at first, family […]
Posted on June 11, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
After working and saving, clients are concerned that unexpected costs will become unplanned for drains on their Retirement Accounts (e.g, 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), etc.). As the need to pay for nursing home care nears, those concerns grow and questions begin to be asked about whether retirement accounts are safe from the nursing home. […]
Posted on May 16, 2019 by Shanna N. Fink
Some clients decide to hire an attorney to prepare their estate planning documents because they do not like the default laws in Wisconsin about who gets their property if they die without a will. In Wisconsin, if you die without a will, or your will doesn’t give all of your property away, your property will […]
Posted on March 12, 2019 by Jessica A. Merkel
Did you know that Medicaid is the largest source of funding for nursing home care? Medicaid, often called Medical Assistance or Title 19, has many rules that are confusing, and thus a mystery to many people. Even more of a mystery surrounds the idea that you can protect your assets and still be eligible for […]
Posted on February 14, 2019 by Ashley L. Hawley
In my opinion, education is the most impactful aspect of my role as an estate planning attorney. I often tell the story that when I first decided upon estate planning – over ten years ago – I excitedly told my husband that I had settled upon my specialty. He responded supportively – “That’s great!” …So, […]
Posted on January 16, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
When faced with the possibility of paying for nursing home care, many people I meet with are concerned about what will happen to their house. Inevitably, I am asked, “Will the nursing home take my house?” To protect the house, clients want to immediately give it away to their child or children. Although this sounds […]
Posted on December 28, 2018 by Shanna N. Fink
If you are married, it is likely that either you or your spouse assume primary responsibility for financial matters, like paying your bills, filing your tax returns, choosing your investments, buying insurance, and applying for loans. If you are single, then you are probably the only person who knows everything about your finances. In either […]