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 planning is a related but distinct part of the process. Long-term care costs can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings if not addressed in advance. We help clients evaluate their options, understand eligibility rules, and put a plan in place that protects assets while ensuring access to needed care.
How We Build Your Estate Plan
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A will directs how your assets should be distributed after your death. It also appoints a personal representative to administer your estate through the probate process.
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A revocable 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 avoid probate while providing flexibility, privacy, and continuity in how your estate is handled.
An irrevocable trust transfers assets out of your control to a trustee for long-term management and distribution under fixed terms. It can provide asset protection, tax advantages, and greater certainty in how your estate is preserved and passed on.
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A pour-over will works alongside a trust by directing any assets not already in the trust to be transferred into it after death. This helps ensure your estate is handled according to a single, consistent plan.
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A financial power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you’re unable to do so. This can include paying your bills and managing your property and accounts.
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A medical power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to make such 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. It provides guidance for your loved ones and healthcare providers when difficult decisions arise.
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A HIPAA authorization allows your healthcare providers to disclose your medical information to the people you choose. It ensures those individuals can access the information needed to make informed decisions about your care.
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This document allows you to appoint someone to handle the disposition of your remains after your death, including burial or cremation. It helps avoid confusion and ensures your wishes are followed.
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A beneficiary deed allows your real estate to pass directly to a named beneficiary after your death without going through the probate process. This can make the transfer faster, simpler, and less expensive.
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 eligibility requirements are met.
Medicaid has a five-year lookback period. Certain transfers made within five years of applying can result in a penalty period of ineligibility.
Giving assets away can create problems. Transferring property or money without proper planning may delay Medicaid eligilibity rather than ensure it.
Some assets are treated differently than others. Not all property counts the same for Medicaid eligibilty purposes, and the rules aren’t always intuitive.