Many people in Pennsylvania plan on applying for Medicaid or other government benefits to help supplement their income during their senior years. However, these benefits are generally only available to those with a low income and few assets. Does this mean that a...
Bring your family into estate planning
Thinking about the end of your life is difficult and talking about it may be even more uncomfortable. But discussing your or your parents end-of-life plans and intentions with your family may be an important part of estate planning, make them more familiar with these...
3 valuable tools for estate planning before a second marriage
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are divorcing less. A commonly cited statistic is that 50% of U.S. unions end in divorce, but it is not so simple as saying only half of marriages survive. One factor that skews the data used to find this number is the...
What is a Medicaid income spend down plan?
When you consider the needs of you or your loved ones, elderly or otherwise, Medicaid may come up as an option. But it has its pros and cons Medicaid, unlike Medicare, has benefits for nursing home and personal care costs. This makes it a useful tool to evaluate while...
Choosing a trustee for your special needs trust
As the Pennsylvania parent of a child with a disability, you may be wondering how to maximize what you leave your child without having those assets impact his or her eligibility for government benefits. Many parents facing similar circumstances get around assets...
What should I know about contesting a will?
Ideally, when someone close to you dies, the estate goes smoothly through probate and there are no issues. However, if you have concerns about the estate documents and their validity, you may feel the need to contest. Contesting a will requires a formal objection...
Can family discussion prevent discord after your death?
Planning your estate is a personal matter, no doubt, but you can benefit from discussing your end-of-life wishes with your family in Pennsylvania. Involving the people you care most about in the process of coordinating your estate can encourage mutual understanding...
Estate planning for second marriages: 3 considerations
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17% of people in the United States who lose a spouse from death or divorce eventually remarry. The rate of both divorces and remarriages has risen for those age 55 and older over the past seven years, while each has dropped for...
What does it mean to have Part A, B, C or D Medicare?
Having Medicare in Pennsylvania can help you get the coverage you need for a crisis or medical necessity, but it may not cover everything. Supplemental care, copays, prescriptions and the like may require additional steps. As the Pennsylvania Insurance Department...
Do I need a power of attorney if I have a living will?
When planning your estate in Pennsylvania, a living will is an essential tool to plan decisions about your health care and finances. But even a living will cannot anticipate all of the situations that may arise. For that reason, it is a good idea to also establish a...
