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 will help you and all your family members make informed decisions regarding Elder Law matters such as Medicaid planning, estate planning, asset protection, and nursing home planning. Every person is on a unique journey towards their "golden" years. Unfortunately, the process has become more complicated with each passing year. Our firm prides itself on offering unique planning and solutions tailored to our clients' 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 special practice that assists seniors with their legal issues. As we get older, there are many more issues that we face than we did when we were younger. These include long-term care, housing, retirement and wealth transfers. Elder Law covers all of these issues and more.

Many elderly people fear losing their savings and home if they require long-term or nursing home care. They don't wish to become a burden for their family or society.

Brent's thoughtful and professional advice has given peace of mind for thousands of families in Saint Joseph, Northwest Missouri. 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 It's never too late to begin planning for Medicaid and long term care. Many people are unaware of the benefits of Medicaid and have not planned for it. Many families do not know who is eligible and how planning for nursing home Medicaid can help their spouse or loved ones. It is crucial to hire a nursing home attorney who has experience and is committed to helping families.

With his expertise in nursing home Medicaid planning, Brent has helped families across the community save thousands of dollars. As a Nursing Home Lawyer, Brent would advise a few key things to remember when it comes to Medicaid - Brent, a nursing home lawyer, would recommend a few key points to remember about Medicaid. Most of what you hear from others about nursing home Medicaid are well-meaning, but they are almost always wrong.

It is almost never too soon or too late for planning.

Your loved ones can still receive Medicaid benefits even after they move into a nursing home.

It's crucial to know the legal protections and strategies available for the spouse and their family members of a resident in a nursing home. People are often afraid that they might lose their home or their life savings if their spouse or a loved one must move into a nursing care facility. This is almost impossible to prevent in most cases.

Many financial protections are available to elderly couples and individuals 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. Missouri law allows the Community Spouse to keep at least $25728 for 2020, up to a maximum $128 640.00. This amount is adjusted every year to reflect inflation and costs of living. 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 begins on the day that the Medicaid applicant is admitted to a hospital or nursing home for at most 30 consecutive days. The couple's countable assets are divided into 2 with each spouse receiving their one-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 spouse who has more assets than their spouse will see their assets decrease. To ensure everyone's protection, it is essential to work with an Elder Law lawyer during this process. According to the Wall Street Journal, 86% are living below the poverty level due to having to pay for their spouse's care costs.

Let's say John and Mary have $300,000. John has dementia and needs nursing home care. The Medicaid caseworker assigns the $300,000 worth of financial assets to Mary, who will then CSRA $128,640 and John $171,360. John must have less that $5,000 to be eligible for Medicaid. John's assets will be credited to the family and they will be required to spend $166 360. John and Mary will be required to spend 55% of the savings they have made in order to qualify for Medicaid. It is easy to see why 86% of spouses who survive are living below poverty line due to their spouse's medical costs.

John and Mary wouldn't need to spend any of their savings if they had a proper plan and were assisted by a qualified Medicaid Asset Protection attorney like G. Brent Powers. You can avoid an unpleasant and costly situation by making sure you have the right legal strategies in place.

But what if the planning was not perfected in time? Can all hope be lost? Is it all over? 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 is a professional with the necessary experience and expertise to make sure Mary doesn't become homeless.

Brent makes every effort to meet with clients personally before he applies or appears in court.

Real Estate / Deeds

As they get older, many people start to think about how to transfer their home, farmland and other properties to their loved one or others. Others may require help selling real estate, even without the assistance of an agent or 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 you need long-term care or nursing facility care? A living trust is the best choice? What tax implications will a transfer of property have? Is it possible for the owner to finance the sale?

Brent has assisted many families to make the right decisions in transferring their homes, farms, or businesses over the years.

Estate Planning

Proper estate planning is about maintaining control over your assets while you live, continuing to provide care for your loved ones even if you are incapacitated or disable, and distributing your property after you die to who you want, when and how you want it, at the lowest possible cost.

Proper planning requires that we consider the unique needs of your family and their assets. Only then, can we decide which documents and strategies are needed to make your planning work.

Along with helping you set up an appropriate estate plan, Brent can help you with further advice on: Brent is available to help you create an estate plan.

Administration of trusts

Brent is available to help you determine the best way for your affairs to be managed. This will prevent future problems, unnecessary expenses, and skill gaps.

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

Although he began his career in the courtroom as a trial advocate, he changed to Elder Law due to the need of his parents, his older clients, and numerous referrals.

He served as the President of the Saint Joseph Bar Association. He also served on numerous community boards and took part in many events sponsored or organized by the Saint Joseph Bar Association in order to assist people in need of sound legal advice.

Brent is a native Missourian, having grew to be a Saint Josephian.

He graduated from Central High School and received his undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He then earned his law degree in Missouri – Kansas City.

He is a National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys member and the National Order of Social Security Claimsants' Representatives.

These national organizations offer education, training, as well as a national network for expertise to assist senior citizens and those with special needs.