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8 Keys to Effective Long-Term Care Planning
Long-term Care Planning is one of the biggest issues facing aging adults today. Experts project that nearly 70% of all individuals will need long-term care at some point in their life. And yet, that care is outrageously expensive at a time in life where one is...
Medicaid Help
When a loved one needs nursing home care, that is one of the most stressful things a family faces. We help families every day deal with this difficult issue. One of the biggest concerns is often “how do we pay for it?” Nursing homes are expensive, often $10,000 per...
Is Your Loved One in a Nursing Home?
Is your spouse, parent, sibling, or loved one in a nursing home? Are you worried about running out of money? Have you been told it’s too late to protect assets? These are common concerns we hear when meeting with clients for the first time. Our advice is this: It’s...
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(Video) When is the best time to contact an attorney about long-term care?
If you already know what an elder law attorney does, then you may be wondering when it's best to contact them for help. Anytime there is a transition period or crisis situation, your lawyer can help lay the groundwork for care and help get more benefits to pay for...
10 Ways to Tell a Good Estate Plan From a Bad One
To see this infographic complete with links to other articles and more information, go here: How to Tell a Good Estate Plan From a Bad One. To get started creating a "good" estate plan, give us a call at 217-726-9200 and we'll schedule an initial meeting. Read here...
7 Important Things Cinderella’s Father Could Have Done Better
The secret to avoiding disaster in the Magic Kingdom -- plan ahead. So much of parenting is about planning and anticipating problems BEFORE they happen. And trips to Disney World are no exception. We know from experience that our kids get worn out if the days are too...
12 Duties of a Helper: What Do Executors, Trustees, Guardians and Powers of Attorney Really Do?
Every estate plan needs a good helper(s). Choosing those helpers can be tough. Your trustee, guardian, power of attorney, or executor will be responsible for making decisions when you become disabled (like from a stroke or dementia) or pass away. But what exactly are...
What You Need to Know About Nursing Care and Aging
So, what do nursing homes have to do with estate planning? When most people think about estate planning, they almost exclusively think of a Last Will & Testament, but a Will only works AFTER you pass away. A Will sets out what will happen, who's in charge, and...
Case Study: When a Young Mother Suddenly Dies
The Brock's were just an average young family in the 1980's. The father, Robert, had been to Vietnam and back a decade earlier. The mother, Margaret, stayed at home with their two young boys, James and Steven. The family lived in a modest ranch house in middle...
7 Reasons Estate Planning Is an Act of Love
When you think of Valentine's Day, you probably don't think about estate planning, but we do! We see the depth of our clients' love for their families everyday as they put an effective plan together -- a plan from which they may never see the benefits. A plan that...
The Difference Between a Will, a Living Will and a Living Trust
A recent survey on estate planning found that 74% of those surveyed thought estate planning was a confusing topic. That's no surprise considering estate planning has a language all its own. Today, we'll sort out the difference between a Will, a Living Will and a...
Why You Need Long-term Care Planning
Finding good care as you age has always been stressful. And thanks to the rising costs of long-term care in the U.S., the last decade of life is now more stressful than ever. Long-term care planning (or Life Care Planning) can help make sure you get good care, help...
Secrets: 5 Things Your Adult Children Need to Know About Your Estate Plan
Parenting often involves keeping secrets, especially when the kids are little -- remember all the secrecy surrounding Christmas or birthdays? Back when my daughter was 4 years old my wife and I kept a big secret from her. For her 5th birthday we surprised her with a...