Essential Planning for the Next Chapter
Your estate plan should reflect the life you have now, not the one you had before marriage, divorce, or other major life changes. We design and draft wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills that safeguard your wishes, manage your assets effectively, and simplify decisions for those you trust.
Medicaid and long-term care planning involve separate but closely related considerations. Without advance planning, long-term care costs can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings. We help clients evaluate their options, understand eligibility rules, and develop strategies that protect assets while ensuring access to needed care.
Core Planning Documents
Essential documents that help protect your wishes, finances, healthcare decisions, and loved ones during your life and after your death. Click any document name below to learn more about its purpose and function.
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A will directs how your assets should be distributed after your death. It also allows you to appoint a personal representative to administer your estate through the probate process.
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A living trust allows you to retain control of your assets during your lifetime while setting clear instructions for their management and distribution after your death. When properly funded, it can help your loved ones avoid probate while providing flexibility, privacy, and continuity in how your estate is handled.
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A pour-over will is a companion document to a living trust that serves as a safety net by directing that any assets inadvertently left outside the trust are “poured over” into it after your death and distributed according to the trust’s terms.
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A financial durable power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you’re unable to manage them yourself. This may include paying your bills, managing your bank and investment accounts, and handling other financial matters on your behalf.
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A medical durable power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself. It’s typically used in situations involving illness, injury, or incapacity.
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A living will states your preferences for medical treatment in certain end-of-life situations, such as if you have a terminal illness or are permanently unconscious. It provides guidance for your loved ones and healthcare providers when difficult decisions arise.
Did You Know?
Medicare and Medicaid aren’t the same thing. Medicare generally doesn’t cover long-term nursing home care, while Medicaid may, but only if certain eligibility requirements are met.
Medicaid has a five-year lookback period. Gift or asset transfers made within five years of applying can result in a penalty period of ineligibility.
Not all assets affect Medicaid eligibility the same way. Depending on the circumstances, some assets, such as a primary residence, vehicle, or personal belongings, may be exempt when determining eligibility.