One of the most important estate planning decisions you will make is deciding who will be responsible for your affairs if you become disabled and who will administer your estate after your death.  This “job” often requires a great deal of time and responsibility which can include making health care decisions, paying bills, managing investments, selling a home or vehicle, yearly accountings, filing tax returns, dealing with other family members, etc.

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

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-

Alzheimer’s disease affects more than five million older Americans and is the most common form of age-related dementia. Yet despite decades of research, there exists no definitive biological test to identify it – no blood test or brain scan for example. A diagnosis is commonly based upon a number of cognitive and physical assessments with sometimes inaccurate or conflicting results. Research by the National Institute on Aging suggests that about one-third of Alzheimer’s dia

A few years ago, The National Elder Law Foundation newsletter discussed a handout the author provides to clients who have a terminal illness. The hand out is designed to help clients prepare for their eventual death particularly those who recently learned they are suffering from a terminal illness. The recommendations include:

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 average nearly $11,000 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 VA benefits, cr

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.

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. Few things are more heart-wrenching than to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's or to watch a loved one

Living into your eighties is no longer uncommon. With the doubling of life expectancy since the Industrial Revolution, we have achieved what