Blog
ALTCS’ “Snapshot” Date and Its Crucial Impact on a Couple’s Financial Picture
When a married couple applies for Medicaid (also known as Arizona Long Term Care System or ALTCS in Arizona), the ALTCS must analyze the couple’s income and assets as of a particular date to determine eligibility. The date that the agency chooses for this analysis is called the “snapshot” date
Guardianship: When Can Someone Be Declared Legally Incapacitated?
If a loved one is experiencing memory loss or suddenly making poor decisions, you may want the court to appoint a guardian, which requires a declaration of incapacity. Determining whether someone is incapacitated to make their own decisions is a complicated process. What is a Guardian? If a loved one
ABLE Accounts vs. Special Needs Trusts: Why Not Have It All?
If you have a child with disabilities, it is crucial to set money aside for the child’s future. At the same time, you need to consider your child’s access to public benefit programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), as well as the state and federal tax implications.
What is the Difference Between Elder Law and Estate Planning?
Lots of people don’t fully understand the difference between elder law and estate planning— and that’s okay! We get it. Many elder law attorneys also specialize in estate planning, as the two often go hand in hand. This can make it a little confusing to differentiate one from the other.
What is the ALTCS Five Year Look Back Policy?
Many people fear the ALTCS/Medicaid Five-Year Look Back Policy—and they should! (ALTCS stands for Arizona Long Term Care System, which is Arizona’s Medicaid program for long term care, such as assisted living or nursing homes.) The Policy is intended to punish ALTCS applicants or recipients who attempt to hide their
Veterans Benefits for Assisted Living?
Yes! You may qualify for Veterans benefits for assisted living. The Veterans Administration offers an Aid and Attendance Pension to reimburse wartime Veterans and their surviving spouses for out of pocket medical and care expenses. Never heard of that? Not many have because their military service may have been decades
Britney Spears Case Puts Renewed Focus on Guardianships and Less Restrictive Alternatives
Britney Spears’s legal fight to wrest back control over her personal and financial affairs has flooded the issue of guardianship in Klieg lights. While a full guardianship may be necessary for many individuals who are incapable of managing their own affairs due to dementia or intellectual, developmental or mental health
The Attorney’s Role in Medicaid Planning
Do you need an attorney for even “simple” Medicaid (ALTCS) planning? This depends on your situation, but in most cases, the prudent answer would be “yes.” (ALTCS is Arizona’s long term care Medicaid insurance program.) The social worker at your mother’s nursing home assigned to assist in preparing a Medicaid
Should I Add My Daughter to My Bank Accounts? No.
Adding adult children, relatives, or friends as joint owners on bank accounts is a popular practice among the elderly. What they may not realize is that this opens themselves up to unintended consequences and risks that we cannot legally or easily fix. (The following does not pertain to joint ownership
Using Estate Planning to Prepare for Medicaid
Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets for future generations. Long-term care can be very expensive, especially around-the-clock nursing home care. Most people end up
