Author Archives: Jay Butchko
When Alzheimer’s Patients Are Targeted by Financial Scams: Legal Steps Families Can Take
Financial scams aimed at elderly individuals are increasing, and those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are more vulnerable to these types of fraud. Alzheimer’s disease makes it hard to spot frauds, withstand pressure, or keep track of your financial activities. Scammers take advantage of their vulnerable state through phone calls, emails, online chats,… Read More »
How an Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Can Change Your Estate Planning Strategy
Most folks think Alzheimer’s disease only affects those of advanced age, but early-onset Alzheimer’s can affect individuals in their 60s, 50s, and even early 40s. They may still be working, have families, and financial obligations they need to meet. The shock of a diagnosis at a young age can be overwhelming. However, it also… Read More »
Understanding the Medicaid Look-Back Period: How One Mistake Can Delay Nursing Home Coverage
One of the most important areas in elder law is planning for long-term care. The cost of nursing home care can be thousands of dollars a month. Many families rely on Medicaid to assist in paying for these costs. However, to qualify for Medicaid benefits, there are many financial eligibility rules. One of the… Read More »
Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship: Which Option Protects a Loved One With Dementia?
When a loved one starts to experience dementia or Alzheimer’s, it can be a tough situation for families to decide on the best way to manage their finances, healthcare, and well-being. Alzheimer’s can slowly impact an individual’s capacity to pay bills, make medical decisions, or handle legal issues. When such cases happen, two legal… Read More »
Elder Financial Abuse: How to Spot It and What Legal Options You Have
Elder financial abuse is one of the most rapidly growing forms of exploitation. It is a silent form of abuse, which is usually perpetrated by someone the elderly person knows and trusts. It is, therefore, vital that you know the signs and the available legal options. What is elder financial abuse? Elder financial abuse… Read More »
Medicaid Planning Mistakes That Could Cost Your Legacy
For many elderly citizens, Medicaid is a vital source of payment for long-term care. However, the Medicaid qualifications are complicated, and any error could cause delays, penalties, or the improper expenditure of resources. Proper planning is vital if you are to successfully protect your legacy while still receiving the care you need. Misunderstanding the… Read More »
Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney: Which Do You Really Need?
As we prepare for our future, two legal options are often mentioned in the process: guardianship and power of attorney. Though they are similar in the fact that another person is making decisions for someone else, they are used in very different ways. What is power of attorney? A power of attorney (POA) is… Read More »
Reviewing and Updating Your Estate Plan: When and Why It Matters
Estate planning is an important step for you, your family, and your assets. However, many individuals make the mistake of considering estate planning to be a one-time process. This is not true, and an estate plan must be reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect your life, your wishes, and the law…. Read More »
How Digital Assets Fit Into Your Estate Plan
The majority of folks who are picturing an estate plan think of tangible assets like a home, a bank account, or family heirlooms. But today, many of the things that we prize exist online. Email accounts, digital photos, and social media accounts are all examples of assets that we don’t necessarily think about. They… Read More »
Estate Planning for Blended Families: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls
Blended families are more common today than ever before, and as wonderful as this is, it also brings its own set of unique challenges when it comes to estate planning. If you are part of a blended family (you are remarried and have stepchildren or children with multiple partners), then a simple will just… Read More »