Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer |

20 Sep Shannen Doherty’s Family Benefits From Deathbed Divorce in Contrast to Estate Planning to Limit Jackie O’s Inheritance

Posted at 16:20h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Trusts

Famed actress, Shannen Doherty, most commonly known for her television roles in “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Charmed”, got divorced from her husband, successful photographer, Kurt Iswarienko (“Kurt”), hours before her death in California on July 13, 2024. In contrast, Aristotle Onassis planned on divorcing former first...

26 Jul Should You Name A Trust As A Beneficiary Of Your IRA?

Posted at 09:30h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Retirement, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

After the passage of the Secure Act a few years ago, planning by naming a trust as a beneficiary of a retirement account (that is not a ROTH IRA) had to be reconsidered. Previously a designated beneficiary (even if the trust is named as the...

01 Apr Medicaid Estate Recovery Kill Bill

Posted at 15:01h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Social Security, Transfer of Death, Trusts

U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois has proposed a bill that would end Medicaid estate recovery (Medicaid estate recovery is the process to recoup care costs such as nursing home care, care at home, medications, etc.) from the estate of the deceased Medicaid recipient. Typically,...

29 Mar Options To Consider When Planning For A Minor Who Is A Beneficiary

Posted at 13:32h in 529 plan, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Inheritance, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Taxes, Trusts, utma, Wills

It is very common for a minor to be named as a beneficiary of a will or trust. However, since a minor is presumed to lack capacity under law until reaching the age of majority, different planning options should be considered. Even when a child...

27 Mar Is There A Standard “Standard” For Trust Distributions? Why Is The HEMS Standard So Common?

Posted at 13:27h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes, Trusts

Irrevocable trusts (including trusts created within a will as well as irrevocable trusts created within a revocable living trust) give guidelines to a trustee as to how distributions are to be made in accordance with your desires. Some prefer mandatory distributions (i.e., trustee must give...

25 Mar 4 Ways To Use Annuities For Asset Preservation In Government Assisted Care Costs In Texas

Posted at 13:12h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes

Long-term care Medicaid (the government program that assists in payment of nursing home care and medication) is means-tested. The government looks at an applicant’s assets prior to obtaining eligibility for paying for long-term care. The government (Texas Health and Human Services Commission) also considers income...

01 Dec 15 Common Mistakes When Completing A Nursing Home Medicaid Application Or Planning For Eligibility

Posted at 18:03h in Disability Benefits, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Taxes, Trusts

The cost of long-term care is great (average is around $7,500/month in Texas). As a result, many apply for long-term care Medicaid for governmental assistance to help pay the facility and drugs. It is not unusual for us to receive calls after either a facility...

26 Oct Impact Of Divorce On Prior Estate Planning:Automatic Revocation Of All Your Ex’s Who Live In Texas

Posted at 10:17h in 401(k), Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Probate Administration, Retirement, Trusts, Wills

What happens if you pass and if you named your spouse as the beneficiary of your Will, trust, life insurance policy, IRA or bank account and you never change the beneficiary after divorce? It depends on the state in which you live. In Texas (and...

25 Oct 10 New Laws That Concern Elders, Estate Planning And Probate

Posted at 10:18h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Business, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Trusts, Wills

Although there are dozens of new laws in Texas, the following (in no particular order) are just some that affect estate planning, probate, guardianship and the elderly. Homesteads Held in Revocable Trusts Need Specific Language to Have Homestead Property Tax Exemption and Homestead Exemption for Creditor...

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...