As the founder of the Elder and Estate Planning Law Firm, I specialize in helping Michigan families protect their

Estate planning can often seem overwhelming. Fortunately, as a certified elder law attorney, I can help with all of your estate planning

The bible explains that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (see 1 Timothy 6:10). Unfortunately, this love of money can impact families at the worst time - following the death of a loved one. When families are supposed to be supporting and comforting each other, they sometimes pull apart. Whether the conflict is over an expensive possession such as an old, broken lamp or over something valuable, families can be forever torn apart. I once had a family that was fig

Leaving your family to sort through all of your papers after your death or following an emergency is often very time consuming

The elderly are increasingly looking to their families to provide care for their needs. Unfortunately, as the growth of the elderly population outpaces the younger generation, there are fewer caregivers available to take care of elderly loved ones. This causes significant stress on caregivers as they try to handle the care for a loved one (often on their own) while also managing their own family. The typical family caregiver is a female in her mid to late forties, works full-

The Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) became effective in Michigan on July 1, 2024. Developed by the Uniform Law Commission, the UPOAA is a model statute that has been adopted in at least 30 other states and the District of Columbia. Regarding the UPOAA, there are some important things to know:

A caregiver is kneeling next to his elderly patient outside a nursing home. For longer than I have been practicing law - over 30 years now - the countable asset limit for a single individual seeking Medicaid nursing home benefits or MI Choice Waiver benefits was $2000.00. Last year, to the surprise of many (including me), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services increased the $2000.00 asset limit to $9660.00. Because this asset limit is adjusted annually for infla

Protecting assets from nursing home expenses is an issue that I am frequently asked about. Sometimes it may arise after a heart attack, stroke or other concern. Other times it may arise after a loved one moves into an assisted living facility or nursing home due to Alzheimer's disease. Whatever the motivation, it is a topic that is full of misunderstanding and misinformation. After over 30 years of practicing law, I have heard numerous clients repeat things they were told or

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) ordinarily releases updated figures for Medicaid qualification. These updates are released in late summer and most importantly, they reflect the cost of living increases that we all experience. For Medicaid recipients, the increases allow additional amounts to be used to pay for funerals or to allow a community spouse to retain additional amounts of their spouses's income.

In the 1990 comedy movie Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin plays the role of a young boy mistakenly left behind while his family flies to Paris