The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the 2025 figures for Medicare. As in 2024, these health care costs are going up across the board.
Elder Law & Asset Protection
Medicaid Applicants: Protecting Your Healthy Spouse in 2025
Each year, the feds issues updated guidelines outlining how much of a couple’s assets a healthy spouse can keep while their Medicaid spouse gets the long-term care support they need.
Your Social Security Benefits for 2025: COLA Update
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially released its annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) figures for 2025.
The Simplicity of Elder Law
In recent years, Tennessee’s sixty-five (65) and over population has steadily increased. The senior population has the largest growth rate in the state
What is an Advance Directive for Health Care?
The worst-case scenario has happened: you or a loved one has fallen ill or had an incident leaving another person in charge of making medical care decisions.
When to Seek an Elder Law Attorney in Tennessee
In recent years, Tennessee’s sixty-five (65) and overpopulation have steadily increased. The senior population has the largest growth rate in the state, with the last of the Baby Boomers entering retirement age by 2029. Ranked at number three for retirement,…
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Britney Spears Case Puts Renewed Focus on Guardianships
Britney Spears’s struggle to regain control over her business and personal life shines a spotlight on legal guardianship and alternatives that involve less loss of control over one’s life.
The Ins and Outs of Guardianship and Conservatorship
Every adult is assumed to be capable of making their own decisions unless a court determines otherwise. If an adult becomes incapable of making responsible decisions, the court will appoint a substitute.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Medicare?
If you are approaching retirement, you may worry about paying for medical expenses once you leave the workforce. The good news is the United States has a health insurance program for individuals 65 and older. The program is called Medicare. Read…
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Nursing Home Visitation Policies in Disasters and Emergencies
If your parent is a resident of a nursing home, you’re probably familiar with the nursing home’s policies for visiting them, such as the days, hours, and lengths of acceptable visits, as well as who can visit them. But what…
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Special Needs Trusts: Securing the Future of Loved Ones
Caring for individuals with special needs requires a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to ensure their financial security, quality of life, and access to essential support services. Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) have emerged as a powerful tool in this endeavor, providing…
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Why Do I Need an Elder Law Attorney?
While most lawyers in specialized fields focus on a distinct area of the law, a certified elder law attorney is focused on serving the distinct needs of a specific client. Certified elder law attorneys provide counsel for the unique requirements…
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The Guardianship Process in North Carolina
Across the United States, guardianship is understood to be a legal process where an individual or entity is granted the responsibility to make decisions on behalf of another person who is unable to make decisions for themselves and manage their affairs. In North Carolina, specifically, the guardianship process ensures…
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Attaining Guardianship Status for an Adult in North Carolina
It’s all too common: as parents get older, some of their faculties begin to decline. Eventually, the parent’s mental abilities may begin to fail, and you could find yourself needing to make various decisions on their behalf. There is one…
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Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans – Are They Right For You?
People eligible for Medicare and Medicaid often have complex medical situations and need assistance navigating both systems. D-SNPs can assist with this process.
Understanding the 5 Categories of Nursing Home Abuse and How to Recognize Warning Signs
Nursing home abuse or neglect is defined as any action or failure to act that causes unreasonable suffering, misery, or harm to the patient. It can include assault of a patient, but can also include withholding necessary food, medical attention,…
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Understanding Why Long-Term Care Insurance Lapses and How to Prevent It
Long-term care insurance is crucial to cover the high financial risk associated with senior care, whether provided at home or in a nursing facility. However, many people who purchase long-term care insurance let their policies lapse, ultimately losing the benefits…
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North Carolina Criminal Law 20-157(f) – Unlawfully Passing an Emergency or Public Service Vehicle
In North Carolina, if you see an emergency or public service vehicle giving a warning signal with lights while parked or standing within 12 feet of a roadway, you must either: (1) move your vehicle to the furthest lane until…
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Transitioning Your Special Needs Child into Adulthood: Three Important Considerations at Age 18
Raising a child with special needs poses numerous challenges, and one of the most daunting ones for parents is ensuring that their child is well-cared for as they transition into adulthood. Planning for this transition requires consideration of various aspects.…
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Lady Bird Deed
It is no secret that long-term care costs can be exorbitant. The rates on this type of care have skyrocketed for decades. With that being the case, individuals often turn to Medicaid for assistance in paying for their long-term care…
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Adult Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship
When most people hear “guardianship,” they may think of children and the people who take care of them. Whether a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or someone else close to the child, a guardian is responsible for their…
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How is a Medicaid Lien Managed During Probate?
Federal law allows states to recover the money paid to Medicaid recipients via Medicaid payments. One way this is done is through a Medicaid lien on the real property of the Medicaid recipient. A Medicaid lien allows a state to…
Read MoreDeath and Taxes: Inheritance and Estate Tax in the Carolinas
When a loved one dies, the last thing people want to think about is money, but it is often one of the most pressing concerns. A common question people have regarding the estate of loved ones is the taxes that…
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Seniors Continue Embracing Technology
Technology is providing seniors with a multitude of applications to improve their health, lifestyle, safety, and entertainment. While the younger generations may think these older Americans are the equivalent of technology dinosaurs, the truth is mid-life, and older Americans are…
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When Is an Inheritance Not a Good Thing?
Say your spouse is living in a nursing home because of advanced Parkinson’s. Your spouse is currently receiving Medicaid benefits to pay for the high cost of that care. If you were to pass before your spouse, you wouldn’t want…
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South Carolina Medicaid Planning
South Carolina Medicaid planning is often used when a person requires long-term care and does not have private insurance or the financial resources to pay out-of-pocket. Many factors need to be considered to determine whether Medicaid is the best option…
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Helpful Ways to Pay for Assisted Living Costs
Assisted living rent can vary from $2,000 to $5,000 monthly. Depending on what type of care your loved one needs, assisted living can be the most affordable solution when compared to a nursing home ($5,000 to $10,000 or more per…
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Medicaid Asset Rules in South Carolina
The general Medicaid eligibility rule is that a person can’t have more than $2,000 in countable assets. If you are trying to become eligible for Medicaid to pay long-term care costs, you may need to spend down your assets or…
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What is Medicaid Planning?
Medicaid planning is a part of long-term care planning. Many people over age 65 will need long-term care at some point, and the costs of this type of care are very high. Everyone should include long-term care planning in their…
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