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Paying for long-term care – Facebook Live – 8/25/2020

Aug 26, 2020

Posted by Law Office of Christina Lesher, P.C. on Wednesday, August 25, 2020

Christina Lesher – Q&A on Facebook Live – 8/11/2020

Aug 17, 2020

Posted by Law Office of Christina Lesher, P.C. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Facebook Live August 11, 2020 Host: Christina Lesher – Attorney Guest: Robert Pierce – Care Manager *DISCLAIMER* No attorney/client relationship is established until there is a signed contract and fee paid. Questions submitted & our response What age should you start doing Estate Planning? If your over 18 you need a Power of Attorney. If your children are over 18, they need a financial and medical power of attorney. You

Retirement for the childless – Steps to create an Estate Plan for your future care

Apr 5, 2016

As the baby boomer generation ages, there is an increase in people who do not have a spouse or children who will take care of them in their old age. There are increased risks for a person to become diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other disabilities that diminish a person’s ability to care for themselves. Not everyone has someone to protect them when age or disability denies them the ability to protect themselves. Living on your own has several advantages, including independence and living a

3 Changes to Social Security Benefits in 2016 that Could Affect You

Apr 5, 2016

The “Claim and Suspend” strategy, also known as “File and Suspend,” allows a worker to claim their social security benefit and immediately suspend benefit payments. This has been an effective tool to maximize a worker’s benefits. However, based on a new budget act and a few emergency messages published by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the rules have changed. What does the new budget act do ? The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA 2015) allows an applicant to receive “Delayed Retirement Credits” for each

5 Important Tax Changes You Need To Know For 2016

Jan 14, 2016

For most people, tax season means going through the motions of another filing. But some tax changes implemented in the New Year could affect long-term financial planning. Stay updated on estate tax exemptions changes and 401k and IRA contribution income limit changes. 1 – Leave behind more of your estate, tax free. Last year, individuals could give away or leave behind up to $5.43 million without having to pay estate taxes. That will rise once again, as it has every year since Congress passed legislation on it

Why Your Loved Ones’ Medicaid Planning Needs to be Done by An Attorney

Jan 7, 2016

While it may seem harmless to have a social worker or expert staff member at a loved one’s nursing home help with Medicaid planning, this practice is actually illegal according to Texas law. Why is it illegal? According to the Texas Human Resources Code Section 12.001, any person who is not licensed to practice law in the state of Texas commits a Class A misdemeanor if that person charges a fee for assisting in Medicaid planning or for falsely representing themselves as ‘Medicaid planners.’ An

How To Prepare for No Social Security COLA in 2016

Dec 21, 2015

For the first time in five years, seniors and retirees will not be receiving an annual raise in Social Security benefits in 2016 due to a decline in inflation driven by falling gas prices. While the Consumer Price Index has fallen over the last year causing the cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) to remain unchanged, many expenses that retirees face have experienced slight inflation. Even if the financial impact won’t be felt immediately by the majority of beneficiaries, some retirees, like the 47% of elderly unmarried people who

The End of Valuable Social Security Strategies

Dec 21, 2015

On November 2, 2015, President Obama signed into law a federal budget agreement that will throw a wrench into retirement plans for many married couples. Two different Social Security "strategies" will take the brunt of it: file-and-suspend and restricted application. What is file-and-suspend? If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age (FRA) is 66. Once you've reached this age, you're eligible to receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefits. Now, once you've applied for these benefits, you can immediately choose

HIPAA’s Role in Medical Power of Attorney

Nov 1, 2015

If you are caring for a loved one, you need to know about HIPAA. Although the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA for short, was established in 1996, it wasn’t until 6 years later, in 2002, that the Privacy Rules were enacted. Prior to the rules, personal health information could pass between anyone; from your doctor to the hospital to insurers, even third parties. All of this without an individual knowing, let alone consenting. When the HIPAA Privacy Rules first were enacted, the main

Can Trusts Help Medicaid Qualification?

Nov 1, 2015

The short answer is YES! One of the ways that you can protect a loved one’s assets and establish Medicaid eligibility is through a properly drafted trust. This type of trust can minimize the deterioration of an estate by safeguarding assets for loved ones and establish Medicaid eligibility. Certain trusts allow individuals with income over the Medicaid income cap to establish eligibility for benefits that pay for long-term care needs. With the creation of certain trusts, the Medicaid applicant must relinquish control of his or