The connection between a grandparent and their grandchild is a special one. Grandparents can offer wisdom to help guide their grandchildren and they have many stories about their own life experiences to share. They’re also a great source of information about the history of the family. The younger generation provides their grandparents with details about…
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How an Elder Law Attorney Can Help You
An elder law attorney focuses on the legal needs of seniors. As an elder law firm in Massachusetts, we work with a variety of legal tools and techniques that specifically meet the goals and objectives of our older clients. What can an elder law attorney do for you? We have the expertise and knowledge to…
Continue reading…How Seniors Can Make It Easier on Their Kids
As a senior, you can help make things a lot easier on your adult children by doing the proper estate planning. Without this planning, the added burden of trying to figure out how to handle difficult situations at the last minute will likely fall on your children. So, what does the plan entail? Prepare for…
Continue reading…6 Reasons to Call an Elder Law Attorney
Elder law attorneys specialize in helping seniors with a variety of legal issues. Elder law became a specialty in the 1980s when seniors were facing complicated legal issues like qualifying for Medicaid (currently known as MassHealth in Massachusetts). Hiring an elder law attorney, also known as an elder care attorney, is a key step to…
Continue reading…Estate Planning for Snowbirds
As some Massachusetts residents get older, they choose to avoid the cold New England weather and reside in a warmer climate during part of the year. What does that mean for your estate planning? First you need to determine what your actual state of legal residency will be. Some factors used to determine residency include…
Continue reading…What is the Medicaid/MassHealth Look-Back Period?
MassHealth (Medicaid in Massachusetts) is a joint federal/state program that assists individuals with payment of long-term care and other medical costs. MassHealth is designed to pay for long-term care once a person’s funds and assets are extremely limited. To be considered eligible for MassHealth, applicants must meet very strict guidelines in regard to their countable…
Continue reading…What Are the Risks of Using a Power of Attorney for an Elderly Parent?
If you have a durable power of attorney over your aging parent, that means that you can act on your parent’s behalf in financial matters if your parent becomes incapacitated. “Incapacitated” means that your parent no longer has the ability to understand and appreciate the consequences of their actions to make rational decisions. It’s important…
Continue reading…Why Use an Experienced Elder Law Attorney (Like Us) for MassHealth Planning?
While I understand that this sounds somewhat self-serving, it really is important to get the best expert guidance you can when it comes to MassHealth, which is Medicaid in Massachusetts. MassHealth is a joint federal/state program that supports the cost of nursing home care for people who qualify. Seniors (age 65 or older) must meet…
Continue reading…5 Legal Steps to Take When Facing Dementia
Over 5.5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. This included an estimated 5.3 million people age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65. And Alzheimer’s disease is just one form of dementia. It’s important to create a plan when you’re in the early stage of dementia. It will help…
Continue reading…What Assets and Income Count Toward MassHealth Eligibility?
To qualify for MassHealth benefits, seniors (age 65 or older) must meet strict financial eligibility requirements, including both a limit on countable assets as well as income. If you’re married and live with your spouse, both of your incomes and assets count in deciding if you can get MassHealth. Countable income includes: Wages, salary, tips, commissions (before deductions) Self-employment…
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