As a Michigan Elder Law attorney, I deal with legal and elder care issues that affect seniors and their families. Elder Law covers a broad range of topics, but here is a summary of the most common areas:
- Medicaid planning for married couples to protect your home and life savings from the nursing home. If you are married and your spouse in in a nursing home or about to go into a nursing home, we can generally protect 100% of your assets and qualify your spouse for nursing home Medicaid benefits. For more about Medicaid planning in Michigan, including Brighton and Howell, Michigan, click this link: Michigan Medicaid Planning
- Medicaid planning for single people to protect your home and life savings from the nursing home. If your loved one in a nursing home is single, we can protect their home and generally protect between 55% and 100% of their assets.
- Planning for Veterans in Michigan, including a care benefit called “Aid & Attendance”. There is a special benefit to assist with home care, assisted living or nursing home care which provides a married Veteran to receive up to $2,120 per month, income tax free, for life. The benefit for a single Veteran is $1,788 per month, and the spouse of a deceased Veteans can receive up to $1,149 per month. Again, these benefits are paid to assist with care, and are income tax free. Click on this link to learn more: Michigan Veterans Benefits
- Michigan Living Trusts and Wills to make sure you pass on your assets to your loved ones in the easiest, most efficient, tax-friendly way possible, without the cost and delay of Michigan Probate Court. Click here to learn more: Michigan Living Trusts and Estate Planning
- Michigan Power of Attorney to put someone in place to pay your bills and make sure your financial matters are taken care of if you become incapacitated. Three things you should know: First, Michigan’s power of attorney law changed in 2012, so be sure to have your power of attorney reviewed to make sure it is up to date. Second, make sure your power of attorney has good “gifting” provisions. In short, if you are ever in need of long-term care, the person you put in place as power of attorney needs to have the authority to move assets out of your name — this is done by “gifting”, and if your power of attorney doesn’t allow it, you may not be able to protect your life savings from the nursing home. Third, your power of attorney should contain a provision allowing “trust creation”. There are special types of trusts which are helpful in Medicaid planning and long-term care planning. If you are incapacitated and can’t make a trust, you want to make sure the person you put in place as power of attorney can. Here is an Elder Care Whiteboard Video about powers of attorney: Michigan Durable Power of Attorney
- Michigan Patient Advocate Designation (which is also called a Health Care Power of Attorney, Advance Directive or Living Will) puts a person in place to carry out your medical treatment wishes, including decisions regarding life support and end-of-life medical treatment.
What Is a Michigan Elder Law Attorney?
For a plain English description of a Michigan Elder Law attorney, click the following link: Michigan Elder Law Attorney or, to read a blog on a similar topic, click here: Do You Believe In Love At First Sight?
If you or a loved one needs a Michigan Elder Law attorney, why not contact us for a free consultation to discuss your particular concerns and goals? Many clients say they feel a sense of relief simply discussing “What keeps them awake at night” with us. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the peace of mind that comes from having a plan in place for the future. Let’s talk soon.
