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. Each person has a different path to reach their "golden years", which unfortunately has become increasingly complicated over time. Our firm prides itself on offering unique planning and solutions tailored to our clients' needs. We are available to answer any questions you may have about your home, farm or real estate deeds.

Elder Law

Elder Law is a special practice that assists seniors with their legal issues. As we age, we are faced with many new issues, including housing, retirement, wealth transfer, and long-term nursing. Elder Law addresses these and other issues that affect the elderly.

Many elderly citizens fear they might lose their home, savings and everything that they have worked so hard to earn. They don’t want the burden of being a burden on their families or society.

Brent has helped thousands of families in Saint Joseph and Northwest Missouri feel at ease with his expert and thoughtful advice. His experience includes over 30 years working with seniors to create estate plans, estate transfers, powers of attorney, trusts, and other legal requirements.

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

Nursing Home Medicaid Planning. It is never too early to plan for Medicaid or long term 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.

Many families have saved thousands of dollars by using Brent's 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. While the majority of information about nursing home Medicaid is good-intentioned, it is almost always inaccurate.

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

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

It is crucial to be aware of legal protections and strategies that are available for the spouse or family member of a resident at a nursing facility. 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. We can almost always insure that this won't happen to you.

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

Division of Assets

1988 was the year Congress passed the "Spousal ImpoverishmentAct". This law was, despite its title, designed to prevent married couples from having their entire financial assets expended before one of them can qualify for nursing-home Medicaid. As a result, the "Community Spouse", the spouse who remains at home, is allowed to keep a portion of their resources and the spouse who needs Medicaid (the “Institutionalized Spouse”) can get benefits.

Congress also set limitations on the assets that the Community Spouse can keep if the Institutionalized Spouse wants to receive 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. Missouri Medicaid allows for a Division of Assets to be used to determine how much the Community Spouse is allowed to keep.

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. 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. This is why it is important to work with an Elder Law attorney to ensure everyone's best interests are protected. According to the Wall Street Journal, 86% of widows are below the poverty line due to the cost 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 is going to allocate $300,000 in financial assets, and attribute $128.640 to Mary (as her CSRA) and $171.360 to John. 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 be told that John must spend 55% their lives' savings before John can apply 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 will not have to spend down any of their life savings if they plan properly and promptly with the help of G. Brent Powers, a qualified Medicaid Asset Protection lawyer. Avoid costly, unplanned spenddowns by using the right legal strategies and documents.

What if there was no planning? 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 is always available to meet with clients before they apply or appear 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.

Each family's situation should be evaluated in order to determine the best course. 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? A living trust is the best choice? What are the tax implications of transferring property? Can the property owner finance its sale?

Brent has helped hundreds upon hundreds of families, over the years, make the right choice when it comes time to transfer a home or farm.

Estate Planning

Proper estate planning involves maintaining control of your assets and continuing to care for your loved ones. It also means that you can distribute your property after your death to the people you choose, whenever you wish, and at the lowest 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.

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 has been a practicing lawyer in Saint Joseph, Missouri and Northwest Missouri 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 has been president of Saint Joseph Bar Association.

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

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

These national organizations provide education and training as well as a network of experts for member attorneys in order to assist seniors and people with special disabilities.