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. Each person has a different path to reach their "golden years", which unfortunately has become increasingly complicated over time. Our firm prides itself in providing customized solutions for our clients. If you have any questions regarding your farm, home, real estate deeds or power of attorney, trusts and wills, probate vs. unprobate transfer, long-term care, or trusts vs. Wills, please contact our firm today.

Elder Law

Elder Law, a speciality practice that aids seniors in their legal matters, is new_paragraph. 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 their children, families, or society to feel like a burden.

With his thoughtful and skilled advice, Brent has brought peace of mind to thousands families in Saint Joseph and 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 be happy to discuss Elder Law with you and help you develop a plan.

Nursing Home Medicaid Planning It is never too early to plan for Medicaid or 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 important to find a skilled and dedicated Nursing Home Attorney who is committed to helping families.

Brent has helped many families save thousands of dollar through effective nursing home Medicaid planning. Brent is a licensed nursing home lawyer and would like to share some key points about Medicaid. While most of the information you hear about nursing home Medicaid is accurate, it's almost always incorrect.

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

You can still get Medicaid assistance for your loved one even if they move to 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 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

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. 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'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 for inflation each year and changes in the cost of living. 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. 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 a spouse with significant assets will have their assets reduced. 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% of widows are below the poverty line due to the cost of caring for 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 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 have less $5,000 to qualify for Medicaid. John's assets must be paid down by the family, who will then have to spend $166.360. John and Mary will be told that John must spend 55% their lives' savings before John can apply for Medicaid. If the Community Spouse's assets are reduced by this amount, it's easy to see how 86% end up living below poverty due to their spouse's health care 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.

But what if planning wasn't done in advance? 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 takes the time to meet clients face-to-face before appearing in court.

Real Estate / Deeds

As people age, they start to think about how to transfer their property, farmland or other assets to their loved ones. Some people may require assistance in selling real estate without the help of a broker or agent.

To determine the best course of action, each family's circumstances must be assessed. Are there any benefits to gifting property now to your children? 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? Do you need to borrow money from the owner in order to sell your property?

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

Brent Powers was a lawyer in Saint Joseph 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 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 member of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the National Organisation of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.

These national organizations offer training, education, and a national network to support senior citizens and persons with special needs.