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're here to assist you and your family in making informed decisions on Elder Law issues like estate planning, nursing home Medicaid planning, and asset protection. Each person has a different path to reach their "golden years", which unfortunately has become increasingly complicated over time. Our firm is proud to offer our clients customized planning and unique solutions. 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 specialist practice that offers senior citizens guidance and help with their legal needs. 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 seniors fear that they may lose their home, savings, or everything they have worked for all their lives if they need nursing home or long-term care. They don’t want the burden of being a burden on their families or society.

With his thoughtful and skilled advice, Brent has brought peace of mind to thousands families in Saint Joseph and Northwest Missouri. 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's never too late to begin planning for Medicaid and long term care. Many people don't know how Medicaid works and haven't planned for long-term care. Many families don’t know who is eligible, or how they can benefit from nursing home Medicaid planning. It is important to find a skilled and dedicated Nursing Home Attorney who is committed to helping families.

Many families have saved thousands of dollars by using Brent's effective nursing home Medicaid planning. Brent, as a Nursing Home Lawyer, would recommend the following key points regarding Medicaid:Brent, a lawyer for nursing homes, has some tips to help you remember the basics of Medicaid. While most of the information you hear about nursing home Medicaid is accurate, it's almost always incorrect.

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

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

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 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 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.

The law also established limits on the assets the Community Spouse can retain, if the Institutionalized Spouse will be eligible for benefits. These limits are also known as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance. Missouri's 2020 Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) allows for a minimum of $25,728 and a maximum amount of $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. It doesn't matter who owns the asset; the entire couple's assets are considered when determining 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 a Wall Street Journal article, 86% live below poverty level because they have to pay for the care of 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. John's assets will be credited to the family and they will be required to spend $166 360. John and Mary will then be asked to spend 55% on their savings in order for John to become eligible 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 has all the experience and expertise necessary to ensure Mary is not left behind.

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

Real Estate / Deeds

As people grow older, they begin to think about how best to transfer their home, farmland, or other properties to their loved ones or others. Some people may require assistance in selling real estate without the help of a broker or agent.

To find the best path for each family, it is important to assess their individual circumstances. Is there a benefit to gifting property to children now? What happens if your spouse requires long-term or nursing home care? What is the best option? How do you tax the transfer of your property? Is it possible for the owner to finance the sale?

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.

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.

Brent can assist you in setting up an appropriate 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 started his career as a trial lawyer, he was forced to change to Elder Law and Medicaid nursing home planning.

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 member of both the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys as well as the National Organization of Social Safety Claimants Representatives.

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