Stuck in the Middle: Planning Challenges for the Sandwich Generation If you have parents and children alive at the same time, you are part of the Sandwich Generation. This term describes the phenomenon of being “sandwiched” between elderly parents and dependent children. A 2012 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 47% of […]
It’s always difficult to lose a loved one, particularly a parent, spouse, or child. But the difficulty of the loss can be magnified if one believes that the lost family member left behind a will that should not be honored for some reason. The decision to challenge, or contest, a loved one’s will, should not […]
NEW LAW IN CONNECTICUT Transfers (Gifts) Can Lead to Being Sued by Nursing Homes The Connecticut legislature recently passed a new law concerning Medicaid eligibility which allows nursing homes an additional basis to sue to recover lost revenue because a resident, or their spouse or agent under a power of attorney, transferred his or her […]
Can Community Spouses ‘Just Say No:’? Connecticut Doctrine of Spousal Refusal Narrowed by U.S. District Court Often, a Medicaid applicant needing nursing home care will have a spouse who is able to continue living at home in the community (“Community Spouse”). There are strict income and asset guidelines regarding Medicaid eligibility when there is a […]
What is a Will Registry? What’s worse than dying without an estate plan? Having one, but your survivors are unable to locate it, or don’t even know to look for it. In such a case, your estate would be distributed under intestacy laws, the state laws that dictate the division of property of people who […]
Pre-Paid Funeral and Burial Contracts for Medicaid Recipients You may have heard that you will have to “spend down” virtually all of your income and assets to qualify for Medicaid. However, there are some exempt assets that Medicaid applicants can keep and still qualify for benefits. One way that Medicaid applicants can keep some of […]
Help Your Loved Ones by Keeping a Record of Online Accounts and Passwords These days, we increasingly manage our financial and social lives online. Many of us pay our monthly utilities and credit card bills online as well as receive paperless bank statements. Much of our communication with friends and family is through email or […]
Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Special Needs: Special Needs Trusts Estate planning is important for all families. It is especially important for those responsible for the care of someone with special needs. The cost of caring for someone with a severe disability can add up to millions of dollars over a person’s lifetime. […]
Medicare Coverage: Observation vs. Inpatient Status On September 23, a federal district court in Connecticut dismissed the case of Bagnall v. Sebelius. A group of Medicare beneficiaries, the Plaintiffs, filed this lawsuit to protest the use of “observation status” during their hospital stays. Patients on observation status are designated as outpatients, even though they may stay on […]
Where Do I Live for Income Tax and Estate Tax Purposes? Domicile vs. Residence Many Connecticut residents live elsewhere for a significant part of the year. For example, you may stay in Cape Cod for the summer, or you may go down to Florida for the winter. For folks who do not stay in the […]