G Brent Powers Law Office
3715 Beck Rd D-401, St Joseph, MO 64506
Q5QW+6R St Joseph, Missouri
18162330257
https://gbrentpowerslaw.com/
Nursing Home Lawyer in St. Joseph Mo
Where Can I Find a Nursing Home Lawyer in St. Joseph Mo?

We are here to help you, your family, make informed decisions and plan on Elder Law topics such as Medicaid planning, estate and asset protection. Our individual paths to our "golden year" are different. Unfortunately, it has become more difficult over the years. Our firm prides themselves on providing unique solutions and planning that are tailored to each client's needs. Please contact us today to discuss your questions regarding your home and farm, real property deeds, power-of- attorney, trusts/vs. wills probate vs. not-probate transfers, or long-term issues.

Elder Law

Elder Law is a specialty that helps seniors and provides guidance. As we get older, we have to deal with many different issues. Elder Law covers all of these issues and more.

Many elderly citizens fear they might lose their home, savings and everything that they have worked so hard to earn. They don't wish to become a burden for their family or society.

Brent has provided expert and thoughtful advice to thousands of families across Saint Joseph and Northwest Missouri, providing them with peace of heart. With over 30 years experience, he can assist clients in developing estate plans, property transfers, deeds probate, power-of- attorney, trusts and other legal needs of senior citizens.

Brent will help you to create an Elder Law plan. Call Brent today.

Nursing Home Medicaid Planning. Planning for Medicaid and long-term care is a good idea. This is especially true if a parent or spouse may require nursing home care. Many people are not planning for long-term health care and are frequently misinformed on how Medicaid works. Many families don't know who is eligible for nursing home Medicaid planning or how it can benefit them or their family. It is important to select a Nursing home Attorney with extensive experience who is dedicated to helping families.

With his expertise in nursing home Medicaid planning, Brent has helped families across the community save thousands of dollars. Brent is a licensed nursing home lawyer and would like to share some key points about Medicaid. Most of what people tell you about nursing facility Medicaid is not accurate.

It is almost never too late or too early to plan.

Your loved one may still be eligible to receive Medicaid assistance after they have moved into a nursing care facility.

It is important to understand the legal strategies and protections for spouses and families of residents in nursing homes. People fear losing their home or life savings if their spouse/loved one moves into a nursing facility. In most cases, we can guarantee that this will not happen.

Numerous financial safeguards can be provided for seniors and couples, without jeopardizing Nursing Home Medicaid eligibility.

Division of Assets

A 1988 law, commonly known as the "Spousal Impoverishment Law", was passed by Congress. This law, which is often referred to as the "Spousal Impoverishment Bill", was meant to prevent married couples having to lose all of their assets before one of them could qualify for nursing home Medicaid. The spouse who lives in the home (the "Community Spouse") gets to keep some resources while the spouse with a need for Medicaid (the 'Institutionalized Spouse') can claim benefits.

Congress established limits on how many assets the Community Spouse can retain if an Institutionalized Spouse is to be eligible to benefits. These limits are often referred as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance or CSRA. The Missouri Community Spouse can retain $25,728 to $128,640.00 for 2020. This amount will be adjusted each year for inflation or the cost to live. The Division of Assets is the process Missouri Medicaid uses to determine the amount that the Community Spouse can keep within the range.

The Division of Assets starts on the day the Medicaid applicant is admitted for at least 30 consecutive nights to a hospital/nursing facility. The marital couple's countable assets, which excludes very few assets that are exempt, are divided into two and each spouse is given their half. The Division of Assets does not consider the assets of any one of the spouses. Instead, all assets of the couple are combined. This means that the assets of the spouse with significantly more assets will be reduced. Working with an Elder Law lawyer in this process is crucial in order to protect everyone's interests. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 86% widows don't have enough income to cover the costs of caring for their spouses.

As an example, consider John and Mary as a married couple. John has $300,000 worth of assets. John has dementia. Mary requires nursing home care. The Medicaid caseworker will assign the $300,000. in financial assets to Mary and attribute $128.640 to Mary as her CSRA. John is credited $171,360. John must be under $5,000 in order to qualify for Medicaid. The family will be asked to spend $166,360 on assets that John has been attributed. John and Mary will then be asked to spend 55% on their savings in order for John to become eligible for Medicaid. A reduction of the assets of the Community Spouse of this magnitude will mean that 86% of the surviving spouses will live below the poverty line because of the spouse's medical expenses.

John and Mary won't have to use any of the savings they have if they do their planning in a timely manner with the help and assistance of G. Brent Powers (Medical Asset Protection attorney). To avoid an expensive and regrettable situation, it is important to prepare the right legal documents and strategies.

But what if the planning was not perfected in time? All hope is lost The answer is no. Mary could still retain nearly all her assets through the use of a "Marital Medicaid compliant Annuity", even though John is currently in a nursing home. G Brent Powers has all the experience and expertise necessary to ensure Mary is not left behind.

Brent always makes time to meet in person with clients before presenting or applying for a court appearance.

Real Estate / Deeds

As people age, they start to think about how to transfer their property, farmland or other assets to their loved ones. Others might need assistance selling real property without a broker.

Every family's situation must be assessed to determine the best course of action. Do you think there are benefits to gifting your property to your kids now? What happens if your spouse is in need of long-term nursing home or long-term care? What living trust would be the best? What tax consequences will you face if your property is transferred? Do you need to borrow money from the owner in order to sell your property?

Brent has assisted hundreds of families over the years to make the right decision when they are transferring a house, farm, or other property.

Estate Planning

Proper estate planning means maintaining control of your assets while living, continuing to provide for your care and your loved ones, even if incapacitated or disabled, distributing your property after your death to whom you want, when you want and the way you want at the lowest overall cost.

Planning should consider the needs of you and your family. Only then can we identify and use the appropriate documents and strategies to ensure that your planning will be as successful as possible.

Brent can assist you in setting up an appropriate estate plan.

Administration of trusts

Brent will help you to determine the best method to manage your affairs.

Brent Powers is a Saint Joseph, Missouri-based lawyer who has been practicing since 1980.

His career began as a trial attorney. However, due to his parents' needs and the many referrals, he moved to Elder Law, Medicaid nursing homes planning and Division of Assets.

He was president of Saint Joseph Bar Association.

Brent is a native Missourian and grew-up in Saint Joseph.

He is a Central High School grad, who received his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

He is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

These national associations provide education, training and a network of expertise for members attorneys to help seniors and people with special requirements.