Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer |

08 Dec ‘TIL DEBT DO US PART – WHAT YOU NEEDED TO KNOW

Posted at 15:39h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Probate Administration, Retirement, Taxes, Transfer of Death

As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc with many experiencing the loss of a loved one, unemployment or reduced income and higher levels of debt, many are now asking which of their debts will continue after death and which will be forgiven and the resulting...

03 Dec 2020: IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE (USUALLY)

Posted at 15:07h in Assisted Living, Charitable Giving, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Retirement, Taxes, Veterans

As year 2020 comes to an end, it is a good year to make gifts for some due to the CARES Act and potential future law changes – unless there is a possibility of applying for certain public benefits within an applicable “lookback period”. Due to...

25 Nov HOME SWEET HOME MEDICAID HOMESTEAD EQUITY (MAXIMUM VALUE) LIMIT INCREASED TO $603,000 FOR 2021

Posted at 17:11h in End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home, Transfer of Death

As of January 1, 2021, the equity limit for a homestead applicant (who is single) for either the nursing home Medicaid program or “waiver” home care Medicaid program has increased to $603,000. Thus, if the home equity (the difference between the appraised value and any...

23 Nov POTENTIAL TAX RAMIFICATIONS OF THE 2020 ELECTION ON INDIVIDUALS

Posted at 09:00h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Retirement, Social Security, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts

President-elect Biden has suggested various changes in tax laws to help achieve his legislative agenda. Although 2 Senate seats in Georgia have yet to be decided which could make a difference in likelihood of success in achieving the goals of the President-elect, the following are a...

08 Nov 12 THINGS SENIORS SHOULD DO OR DISCUSS WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN THE EVENT OF DISABILITY OR DEATH (BUT NOT ON THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS)

Posted at 09:00h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Social Security

Nobody wants to think (much less talk) about their death or disability or the death or disability of an immediate family member. However, communication reduces risk in achieving your desired goals if unfortunate events should occur. Assumptions often lead to errors or misunderstandings. The following...

02 Nov COMPREHENSIVE TO DO CHECKLIST AFTER LOVED ONE DIES (36 ITEMS TO CONSIDER)

Posted at 09:00h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, Charitable Giving, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Veterans, Wills

While the loss of a loved one may be emotionally devastating, the tasks to accomplish after one dies could be overwhelming. As a result, we have compiled a checklist of some of the important things to consider in a somewhat chronological order as follows: Get a...

19 Oct SUCCESS STORIES OF THE MONTH – SAVING THE HOME FROM PAYBACK TO GOVERNMENT AFTER LONG-TERM CARE MEDICAID RECIPIENT DIES

Posted at 21:25h in Assisted Living, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death

Most Texans have inadequate income and resources or lack long-term care insurance to pay for the cost of long-term care (such as nursing home and assisted living care or care at home). As a result, they often use long-term care Medicaid to help pay for...

19 Oct SEVEN WAYS TO AVOID A FAMILY FEUD ON YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY

Posted at 21:14h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Notarizations, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Wills

It is not unusual for family members to fight over personal property items of value (sentimental or financial - such as jewelry, guns, art, tools, furniture, silverware and china, etc.). After famous comedian Robin Williams died, his Will left his homestead to his wife, but there...

19 Oct EIGHT ESTATE PLANNING ERRORS BY THE RICH AND FAMOUS

Posted at 19:38h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Divorce, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Taxes, Trusts

Although you would think the rich and famous would be the last to make estate planning errors, but they make mistakes (from which we can learn) like others. Here are some celebrity estate planning mistakes: No Estate Plan. Famous singers Prince and Aretha Franklin failed to...

09 Sep POST-DIVORCE ESTATE PLANNING: 6 COMMON QUESTIONS

Posted at 15:50h in Alzheimer’s, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Divorce, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Success Story of the Month, Trusts, Wills

Divorces are often draining – financially and emotionally. As a result, many do not want to incur more costs or even think about different financial arrangements. However, anytime there is a significant change in your family (death, divorce, disability, births, etc.), your estate plan should be at...