Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer |

09 Mar Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley’s Estate Planning Mistakes – Should They Have Had “Suspicious Minds” So Their Estates Wouldn’t Be “all Shook Up”?

Posted at 11:21h in Business, Divorce, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Music, Probate Administration, Taxes, Trusts

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n’ Roll, trusted his manager and promoter, Colonel Tom Parker. Maybe he shouldn’t have. Elvis named his trustworthy father (Vernon) who was in poor health and elderly as the executor (without an alternate) of his will. That was a...

08 Mar 9 Documents Other Than a Will to Consider in Estate Planning

Posted at 11:12h in Asset Protection, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes, Trusts, Wills

Most people think of a will when it comes to estate planning, but there are many other documents to consider in basic estate planning depending on your individual situation. This list of documents (exclusive of a will) includes, but is not limited to, the following: Financial...

31 Jan Bill Passed For ABLE Account Age Adjustment

Posted at 10:39h in 529 plan, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

There is good news for those who are on Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid and who were disabled between ages 26 and 46. As of January 1, 2025, those who were disabled prior to ae 46 can establish an ABLE account and the funds will...

31 Jan 15 Ways To Avoid Guardianship Of The Estate

Posted at 10:28h in Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, utma

Guardianship is often needed for an incapacitated person, but it is an expensive legal process which should be avoided if possible. Thus, planning should be considered as an alternative to guardianship. Texas law defines an “incapacitated person” as: 1) a minor; 2) an adult, who...

31 Jan 6 Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Will And A Revocable Living Trust

Posted at 10:24h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Notarizations, Nursing Home, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

There is much debate among Texas attorneys as to whether it is better to have a Last Will and Testament or a Revocable Living Trust in estate planning. The simple answer is that it depends on the facts, your goals, the type of assets, cost...

21 Dec Veterans Benefits Increase Announced As A Result Of COLA

Posted at 15:37h in Assisted Living, Disability Benefits, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Trusts, Veterans

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has announced in December its 2023 rate increases for certain non-serviced connected disability wartime military veterans, not dishonorably discharged or the surviving spouse of the veteran to help pay for care costs ranging from being housebound to long-term care...

07 Dec 2023 Long Term Care Medicaid Income Cap Increase – When And How To Use A Miller Trust

Posted at 12:48h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Trusts

Applicants for long-term care and Star+ Medicaid must be below an income cap as one of the requirements for eligibility. If the applicant’s income exceeds the income limit of $2,742 (as of January 1, 2023), the eligibility solution for this particular requirement is the creation...

03 Nov Effect Of Divorce On Wills, Trusts, Beneficiary Designations And Other Estate Planning

Posted at 11:53h in Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Divorce, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Trusts, Wills

It is not unusual for married couples to have a will or trust, joint accounts and/or beneficiary designations whereby the spouse is a beneficiary and/or is a fiduciary (i.e., executor, trustee, agent under power of attorney, etc.). However, if the couple divorces, the fiduciary relationship...

03 Nov Legal Anatomy: Simple Wills Could Lead To Big Problems

Posted at 11:49h in Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

Although simple wills are sometimes adequate, planning for the worst-case scenario is the general perspective of the estate planning attorney. You don’t have to be wealthy to need estate planning. The following are facts of a case and solutions from the perspective of the estate...

07 Sep 4 Strategies in Estate Planning for an Estranged Child – You Can’t Choose Your Family – the Days of Beaver Cleaver Are Over

Posted at 12:29h in Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Divorce, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Trusts, Wills

It is not unusual for a parent to become estranged from a child. So, often parents consider different ways to handle their estate planning for the benefit or detriment of the estranged child. Some of the many reasons that I have been told include: (1)...