Monthly Archives: May 2011
Why did the teacher remove all desks from her classroom? What did the kids learn?
When the children arrived at Ms. Cothren’s class on the first day of school a few years back, they were surprised to see not a single desk in the entire classroom. (With permission from the superintendent, she had them removed.) … Continue reading
Law School Interns Help Out
Two interns with an interest in elder law picked up some real life experience this past semester in our office. Bailey Flask and Allison Reinersmann, then third-year law students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, got the chance … Continue reading
VA benefits for healthy vet with ill spouse – a little known secret
It’s well known that veterans benefits for aid and attendance will help pay for long term care needed by a wartime veteran, or the widow or widower of one. But what about Jane, who needs care in an assisted living … Continue reading
What are “exempt” or “excluded” resources for Medicaid eligibility in PA?
To be eligible for Medicaid, an applicant can own only a modest amount of “resources.” But some resources are exempt, meaning they will be excluded when determining eligibility. Exact rules vary from state to state. Here are Pennsylvania’s rules on … Continue reading
Estate planning for a child out of wedlock: Advice for Arnold Schwarzenegger
When the media went into a frenzy this week over revelations of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love child, I told myself I wouldn’t waste time following the story. But every time a news item appeared on the TV or radio, I was … Continue reading
Death Certificate File Copies: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
A troublesome admonition appears in bold print on every Pennsylvania death certificate: “WARNING: It is illegal to duplicate this copy by photostat or photograph.” Does that mean I’ll get in trouble if I make a photocopy for my file? No, … Continue reading
Basic Medicaid eligibility for long term care in Pennsylvania
I’m frequently asked, “What is Medicaid, and how does a person qualify?” It’s an issue I deal with constantly as an elder law attorney in Pennsylvania. In this post I’ll give a quick introduction to this complex program, focusing mainly on … Continue reading
Divorce’s effect on estate planning – advice for Maria Shriver
Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s announcement this week that they will separate reminded me of the various ways divorce affects a person’s estate planning. In this post, I’ll stick to what happens in Pennsylvania. Since laws vary from state to … Continue reading
Protect your estate from scams, bad judgment with a trust
I once had a client who appeared to have fine mental faculties. You could sit and have a conversation with him about recent events, his health, and what he had for breakfast that day. He had been a savvy, successful … Continue reading
Reasons to use a professional administrator for a special needs trust
Let’s say you set up a special needs trust for Joey, your disabled grandson. You’ll need a trustee to make distributions, file tax returns, and carry out all the other duties that go along with administering a trust. Who will … Continue reading
Recent Posts
- When NOT to file a Medicaid application
- How to calculate a Medicaid ineligibility period
- What is the Medicaid look-back period?
- Medicaid benefits increase January 1
- Are kids liable for Mom & Dad’s nursing home bill?
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