Estate Planning

27 Feb TRANSFER ON DEATH (“TOD”) DEEDS

Posted at 06:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Wills

Most of us are familiar with POD or “Pay on Death” provisions in bank accounts, but many are not familiar with real estate passing at death without a will or trust. Among the crop of new legislation being considered by the 84th Texas Legislature is...

13 Feb VA PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES TO PENSION RULES

Posted at 06:00h in Assisted Living, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Trusts, Veterans

The Veteran’s Administration has proposed new rules for eligibility for VA pensions and the Aid and Attendance benefit which are often used by wartime Veterans or their surviving spouses to help pay for the cost of care such as assisted living facilities and nursing homes....

30 Jan OREGON FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO EXPAND MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY

Posted at 23:20h in Divorce, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death

On November 26, 2014, the Oregon Court of Appeals decided that the state agency’s attempt to expand estate recovery (where the state goes after the resources of a Medicaid recipient after such person’s death) was improper. Oregon had amended its rules so that the state...

29 Dec POSSIBLE TRANSFER POLICY CHANGE SENDS SHIVERS TO TEXAS ELDER LAW LEGAL COMMUNITY

Posted at 01:09h in Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home

Since the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 signed on February 8, 2006 (“DRA”), many Texas elder law attorneys have used a transfer planning option (often referred to as “reverse half-a-loaf”) to save at least 50% of the countable resources of a Medicaid...

15 Dec IRS ISSUES LONG-TERM CARE PREMIUM DEDUCTIBILITY LIMITS FOR 2015

Posted at 00:46h in Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is increasing the amount taxpayers can deduct from their 2015 taxes as a result of buying long-term care insurance. Premiums for “qualified” long-term care insurance policies (see explanation below) are tax deductible to the extent that they, along with other unreimbursed...

04 Nov LADYBIRD DEEDS UNDER ATTACK

Posted at 06:18h in Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts

Ladybird deeds, which are commonly used to avoid probate and to avoid claims by the state if the property owner receives Medicaid benefits, are under attack. This is a red flag to all Texans whose biggest asset is their home and who have inadequate insurance...

23 Oct STANDBY REVERSE MORTGAGES: POSSIBLE RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION

Posted at 02:00h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Retirement

The Journal of Financial Planning recently reported that a standby reverse mortgage (SRM) can be helpful as a risk management tool to help clients meet their retirement goals. The SRM represents an additional source of readily available cash in a bucket strategy to draw upon...

14 Jul U.S. Supreme Court Rules Inherited IRAs Do Not Have Creditor Protection

Posted at 07:30h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Retirement, Taxes, Trusts

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 12, 2014 that inherited IRAs are not exempt from the claims of creditors under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Previously, inherited IRAs were protected from the claims of creditors in many jurisdictions including Texas. After the death of the individual...

09 Jun Increased Federal Tax Proposals for year 2015 Budget Announced

Posted at 07:06h in Beneficiary, Business, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts

The Obama Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 Revenue Proposals have been published, and there are numerous suggested proposals which increase taxes in connection with estate planning. Although the Senate passed proposals this past week retaining certain tax incentives for businesses and individuals, the revenue proposals included...

02 Jun Do you trust your Trust?

Posted at 05:02h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Public Benefits Protection, Trusts

As a follow up to last month’s Dallas Morning News article by Pamela Yip entitled “Maintaining Trust”, we thought those who receive our email might be interested in the questions that she asked and a more detailed explanation as follows: Q: Do you have the right...

26 Nov House Passes Bill for Three (3) Year Look-Back Period on Transfers for Veterans Pension Benefits Planning

Posted at 09:09h in Assisted Living, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Veterans

On October 28, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill (HR 2189) that has a three (3) year look-back period and penalizes a claimant for VA pension benefits (typically made by the veteran or his or her surviving spouse when such person has...

14 Nov Texas Legislature Creates New Statutory Durable Power of Attorney Form

Posted at 15:46h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Trusts

The new Texas Estates Code (which will be replacing the Texas Probate Code) has changed the statutory durable power of attorney form that has been in existence since 1997. This change will be effective as of January 1, 2014. Although the existing forms or other...

19 Aug ESTATE PLANNING FOR SAME SEX MARRIED COUPLES CHANGES DUE TO SUPREME COURT DECISION

Posted at 06:48h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Public Benefits Protection, Social Security

Although Texas does not recognize same-sex marriages, here are a few estate planning considerations for same-sex married couples (couples who were legally married in another state) who live in Texas since the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act: Federal employees...

16 Aug DISABLED MILITARY CHILD PROTECTION ACT PROPOSED TO GIVE EQUITABLE TREATMENT TO VETERANS

Posted at 02:48h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Veterans

Under current law, military veterans who invest in a survivor benefit plan must leave their benefits (an annuity) directly to their beneficiary – even if the beneficiary is disabled. Veterans are not permitted to roll their survivor benefits into a special needs trust (a trust...

08 Jul New Estate Tax Exclusion Already Being Targeted

Posted at 19:28h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Retirement

When it was announced earlier this year that there would be no federal estate tax for estates under $5.25 million (instead of $1 million due to the “fiscal cliff”), many Americans were relieved as there was the thought that this would be permanent as adjusted...

01 Jul New Texas Law Promotes Using Life Settlements In Connection with Medicaid Planning

Posted at 19:18h in Assisted Living, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

Governor Perry has just signed a law (to be effective as of September 1, 2013) that allows Medicaid applicants to sell their life insurance policies to life settlement companies and not jeopardize Medicaid benefits provided certain conditions are met. Medicaid is a jointly run state and...

16 Oct Digital Asset Trusts- Estate Planning for Recent Technology

Posted at 14:11h in Asset Protection, Business, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

There are many types of digital assets stored on computers, smart phones, websites, etc., including: (1) personal assets (such as photos, medical records, tax documents, etc.) that require a login with a different password; (2) social media (i.e., Facebook and Twitter, emails that store videos,...

17 Sep SUPREME COURT DECISION RESULTS IN 3.8% MEDICARE SURTAX FOR SOME TAXPAYERS

Posted at 18:22h in 401(k), Business, Elder Justice, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

The recent Supreme Court decision permitting passage of the Affordable Care Act will result in 3.8% Medicare surtax beginning in January 2013 and will apply to all taxpayers whose income exceeds a threshold amount which effectively raises the marginal tax rate for some. The tax...

Medicaid Services

Estate Planning

27 Feb TRANSFER ON DEATH (“TOD”) DEEDS

13 Feb VA PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES TO PENSION RULES

30 Jan OREGON FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO EXPAND MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY

29 Dec POSSIBLE TRANSFER POLICY CHANGE SENDS SHIVERS TO TEXAS ELDER LAW LEGAL COMMUNITY

15 Dec IRS ISSUES LONG-TERM CARE PREMIUM DEDUCTIBILITY LIMITS FOR 2015

04 Nov LADYBIRD DEEDS UNDER ATTACK

23 Oct STANDBY REVERSE MORTGAGES: POSSIBLE RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION

14 Jul U.S. Supreme Court Rules Inherited IRAs Do Not Have Creditor Protection

09 Jun Increased Federal Tax Proposals for year 2015 Budget Announced

02 Jun Do you trust your Trust?

26 Nov House Passes Bill for Three (3) Year Look-Back Period on Transfers for Veterans Pension Benefits Planning

14 Nov Texas Legislature Creates New Statutory Durable Power of Attorney Form

16 Aug DISABLED MILITARY CHILD PROTECTION ACT PROPOSED TO GIVE EQUITABLE TREATMENT TO VETERANS

08 Jul New Estate Tax Exclusion Already Being Targeted

01 Jul New Texas Law Promotes Using Life Settlements In Connection with Medicaid Planning

16 Oct Digital Asset Trusts- Estate Planning for Recent Technology

17 Sep SUPREME COURT DECISION RESULTS IN 3.8% MEDICARE SURTAX FOR SOME TAXPAYERS

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Estate Planning

27 Feb TRANSFER ON DEATH (“TOD”) DEEDS

13 Feb VA PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES TO PENSION RULES

30 Jan OREGON FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO EXPAND MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY

29 Dec POSSIBLE TRANSFER POLICY CHANGE SENDS SHIVERS TO TEXAS ELDER LAW LEGAL COMMUNITY

22 Dec Nursing Home Medicaid Income Cap to Rise in 2015

15 Dec IRS ISSUES LONG-TERM CARE PREMIUM DEDUCTIBILITY LIMITS FOR 2015

04 Nov LADYBIRD DEEDS UNDER ATTACK

23 Oct STANDBY REVERSE MORTGAGES: POSSIBLE RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION

14 Jul U.S. Supreme Court Rules Inherited IRAs Do Not Have Creditor Protection

09 Jun Increased Federal Tax Proposals for year 2015 Budget Announced

02 Jun Do you trust your Trust?

26 Nov House Passes Bill for Three (3) Year Look-Back Period on Transfers for Veterans Pension Benefits Planning

14 Nov Texas Legislature Creates New Statutory Durable Power of Attorney Form

19 Aug ESTATE PLANNING FOR SAME SEX MARRIED COUPLES CHANGES DUE TO SUPREME COURT DECISION

16 Aug DISABLED MILITARY CHILD PROTECTION ACT PROPOSED TO GIVE EQUITABLE TREATMENT TO VETERANS

08 Jul New Estate Tax Exclusion Already Being Targeted

01 Jul New Texas Law Promotes Using Life Settlements In Connection with Medicaid Planning

31 Jan Estate and Gift Taxes Changes Limited by “Fiscal Cliff” Deal

16 Oct Digital Asset Trusts- Estate Planning for Recent Technology

17 Sep SUPREME COURT DECISION RESULTS IN 3.8% MEDICARE SURTAX FOR SOME TAXPAYERS