Actions Without Guidance
After Maria’s husband died, Maria’s daughter, Debbie, persuaded her to sell the family home and move into Debbie’s mother-in-law cottage. That way they could stay close, and Maria could invest the money from the sale in a nest egg on which she could live comfortably. The house sold for a handsome sum, Maria moved in, and life was good.
Unfortunate Results
Unfortunately, soon after Maria had a serious stroke and she ended up needing care she could only receive in a nursing home. Maria and Debbie hadn’t consulted a lawyer, so they had done no advance planning. The value of Maria’s estate far exceeded the limits to qualify for Medicaid assistance, and Maria ended up spending everything she owned on the nursing home.
How an Elder Law Attorney Could Have Helped
If only she had consulted experienced elder law counsel at least five years before, she could have saved her entire estate for Debbie’s inheritance. In addition, there are ways they could have structured the sale of the home so that Maria could have saved the money, paid off Debbie’s mortgage, and still qualified for Medicaid! Even if Maria and Debbie had waited until Maria went into the nursing home, counsel still could have protected around one half of Maria’s estate.
The law permits elders to save, to allocate their money, and to qualify for Medicaid. This knowledge is what you pay an elder law attorney for. The money Maria paid for educated guidance could have been the best investment of all.
With advance planning you can avoid costly mistakes. Contact our office at 718-979-7477 for assistance in long term planning for you or your loved one.