Can an IRA Affect Medicaid Eligibility?
For many Medicaid applicants, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are one of their biggest assets. If you do not plan properly, IRAs can count as an available asset and affect Medicaid eligibility.
Senators Propose Sweeping Changes to the Taxation of Estates and Inherited Gains
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation that would require more estates to pay estate tax and that raises the amounts they would pay. Another proposed law would eliminate the step-up in basis that inherited assets currently enjoy.
The Vacation Home: Uniting the Family or Tearing It Apart?
Inheriting a vacation home with your siblings can be a great thing or it can cause huge problems within the family. Planning ahead can help prevent sibling disagreements.
The Durable Power of Attorney: Your Most Important Estate Planning Document
For most people, the durable power of attorney is the most important estate planning instrument available -- even more useful than a will.
How to Make Changes to Your Will
As life circumstances change (births, marriages, divorces, and deaths), it may become necessary to make changes to your will.
You Can Stretch the Gift Tax Limit by Paying for Education or Health Care
If you want to make a gift to family members but have exceeded the annual gifting limit, there is another way. Payments for a family member’s education or health care expenses are exempt from the gift tax.
Biden Administration Eases Recommended Restrictions on Nursing Home Visits
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued new guidance on whether families can visit loved ones in nursing homes. The guidance allows indoor visitation even when the resident has not been vaccinated.
The Film ‘I Care a Lot’ Highlights Vulnerabilities in the Guardianship System
Netflix’s popular new movie, "I Care a Lot," may be far-fetched in a lot of ways, but it does highlight some real weaknesses in the guardianship system. Fortunately, steps can be taken to avoid the kind of nightmare the film portrays.
9 (Potential) Problems with Your Trust
All trusts should be reviewed every few years to make sure that they are up-to-date with the law and meet your current goals. Here is a checklist of trust features you can review yourself.
Medicaid’s Coverage of Nursing Home Care
For better and for worse, Medicaid is the primary method of paying for nursing home care in the United States. But navigating the Medicaid system is complicated and confusing. Here are the basics.