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 want to help you and your loved ones make informed decisions about Elder Law issues, such as estate planning and nursing home Medicaid 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 in providing customized solutions for our clients. 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 age, many issues arise that are not common in our younger years. These include housing, long-term care, wealth transfers and retirement. Elder Law includes these and many other areas that concern the elderly.

Many elderly citizens worry that they will lose their home and savings if they are in need of long-term nursing home care. They don't want their children, families, or society to feel like a burden.

Brent has provided expert and thoughtful advice to thousands of families across Saint Joseph and Northwest Missouri, providing them with peace of heart. He has more than 30 years' experience working with clients to design estate plans and real estate transfers.

Brent is available to help you understand Elder Law and create a plan for your future.

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 don’t plan for long term care, and they are often misinformed about the process of Medicaid. Many families don’t know who is eligible, or how they can benefit from nursing home Medicaid planning. It is important that you choose a Nursing Home Attorney who has the experience and is dedicated helping families.

Brent has helped many families save thousands of dollar through effective nursing home Medicaid planning. 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's almost never too early or too late to plan.

Even if your loved one moves to a nursing facility, they can still be eligible for Medicaid assistance.

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 often fear that their loved one or spouse will move into a nursing home, and they may lose their home and financial savings. This is almost impossible to prevent in most cases.

Numerous financial safety nets are available for both couples and seniors without jeopardizing Nursing Home Medicaid eligibility.

Division of Assets

The 1988 "Spousal Impoverishment act" was passed by Congress. It was intended to prevent married people from having to give up all their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid 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 known as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance, (CSRA). Missouri's Community Spouse may retain at most $25,728 or $128.640.00. This amount will be adjusted each year for inflation or the cost to live. Missouri Medicaid requires that a Division of Assets Application be completed in order to determine what amount the Community Spouse will be permitted to keep.

The Division of Assets is calculated the first day a Medicaid applicant is admitted into a hospital/nursing home for at least 30 consecutive days. 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. It doesn't matter which spouse owns the asset. The couple's assets will be combined to determine the Division of Assets. This means that a spouse with significant assets will have their assets reduced. It is crucial to consult an Elder Law lawyer to help you navigate this process. This will ensure that everyone's rights are protected. According to a Wall Street Journal article, 86% live below poverty level because they have to pay for the care of their spouses.

Consider John and Mary, a married couple, with $300,000 of financial assets. John suffers from dementia and requires nursing home services. 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 also have less than $5,000 to be eligible. John will tell his family to spend $166.360 of John's assets. John and Mary will now be told to spend $55,360 of their savings each year before John is 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 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 planning wasn't done in advance? Can all hope be lost? The good news is that the answer to this question is "no". Mary would be able to keep almost all of her financial assets even if John is now in a nursing care facility by using what is called a "Marital Medicaid Compatible Annuity". G Brent Powers is a professional with the necessary experience and expertise to make sure Mary doesn't become homeless.

Brent takes the time to meet clients face-to-face before appearing in court.

Real Estate / Deeds

As they age, people think about how to best transfer their house, farmland, and other properties to loved ones. Others may need assistance with selling property without the aid of a broker.

To find the best path for each family, it is important to assess their individual circumstances. Is it possible to gift property to your children right away? What happens if you need long-term care or nursing facility care? A living trust is the best choice? What are the tax implications of transferring property? Can the property owner finance its sale?

Over the years, Brent has helped many families make the right decisions when it comes to transferring their home, farm, and business properties.

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.

Planning must take into account your unique needs, wishes and assets. Only then can we decide what documents and strategies to use to ensure your planning works as you expect.

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 assist you in determining the best way of handling your affairs.

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 and grew-up in Saint Joseph.

He is a Central High School graduate, earned his undergraduate degree from Missouri – Columbia and then received his law degree from 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.