The #1 Problem in Powers of Attorney
In the many powers of attorney I see in my line of work, one problem recurs over and over again. And it’s costing families tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands, of dollars in asset protection. The number one problem is inadequate gifting provisions. If...
5 Useful Features for an Asset Protection Trust
When designing a trust to protect assets against nursing home spend-down, lawsuits, scam artists, undue influence from family or acquaintances, or other hazards, we use certain features over and over again. These features make the trust more user-friendly, allowing...
Medicaid Estate Recovery in PA: How It Works
“Estate recovery” is Pennsylvania’s program for recovering Medicaid costs from the estates of recipients who have died. For example, if Aunt Martha spent a year in a nursing home receiving Medicaid and then died owning a house worth $200,000, the estate recovery...
What is Power of Attorney (and Why Have One)?
If you need some clarity on what exactly a “durable power of attorney” is, and why it’s important to have one, watch the short video below. Here I give you my thoughts on what can happen if you don’t have power of attorney, and why it makes...About Andrew Sykes
The founder of Sykes Elder Law, Andrew Sykes is recognized as a leading elder law authority in Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Sykes is the past chair of the Elder Law Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association.