Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. Yet in spite of everyone having

Probate is the legal process by which the estate of a deceased person is settled. The word probate is a Latin term which means

Estate recovery is the process by which a state recoups expenses paid for long term care following the death of a Medicaid recipient. Since 2011, Michigan has been enforcing its estate recovery law often with devastating consequences – particularly for those who are unprepared. Far too often, families of Medicaid recipients are blindsided by the notice that their loved one’s estate will be wiped out by the State’s estate recovery claim. To protect your loved ones, there are s

I am frequently asked about how to handle all the personal possessions a loved one has accumulated over the years. It is not uncommon to hear that a loved one "kept everything" dating back decades and now the family is at a loss of how to even begin to deal with all the stuff. Most people unfortunately spend years accumulating personal property - some of which can be quite valuable - with little thought given to what will happen to it after they die. As expected, addressing t

A few years ago, The National Elder Law Foundation newsletter discussed a handout the author provides to clients who have a terminal illness

It wasn't that long ago that the on-line world was something used primarily by the younger generation. Now it

A special needs trust is generally used for disabled children or adults. The trust is designed to benefit the child or adult in a way that does not cause them to be disqualified from receiving need-based government benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Examples of typical uses for special needs trust are: A disabled child or adult has a severe physical or mental disability and qualifies for Medicaid or SSI benefits that would be lost if the c

Every January, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) releases updated figures for Medicaid qualification. For 2025,

It may be hard to believe, but once again the Christmas season is upon us. Along with the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ come stress

As the founder of the Elder and Estate Planning Law Firm, I specialize in helping Michigan families protect their estates. Whether you are worried about nursing home expenses that cost an average of almost $12,000.00 per month, assisted living expenses, having your estate avoid probate court or planning for a special needs child or grandchild, I have helped thousands of families obtain peace of mind when faced with such issues. Often this involves qualifying for Medicaid or V