by Maura Curran on May 18, 2012
It is easy to put estate planning on the back burner when there are so many other pressing things to do between work and taking care of families. It is also not uncommon for individuals to think they don’t need a will because they don’t have much money or they don’t have real estate or a business.
People with a lot of valuable assets do need a strategic estate plan to protect assets and loved ones and to minimize tax consequences. People who have basically only a home and life insurance need a will too. An estate plan is not only for helping wealthy people avoid taxes. An estate plan provides your loved ones with a plan for distributing property and paying taxes. A will can also provide a plan for paying debts while a trust can provide a creditor protected financial plan for your beneficiaries. This is especially important if you have any kind of life insurance.
An estate plan is a gift to the people you love who would otherwise have to go through probate and try to figure out how property should be divided. It can prevent fighting among beneficiaries and can give family members a sense of order during a very painful time of grieving.
Getting Legal Help
Experienced Estate Planning Attorney Maura Curran can help you create a last will and testament to fit your personal needs and budget. She can also help you create an estate plan which makes estate administration easier for your loved ones and your personal representative. Contact us today at 561.935.9763 and toll free 855.873.7268.
by Maura Curran on May 17, 2012
On April 26, 2012, the Florida Association of Counties, along with 46 individual Florida counties, sued the State challenging a new law requiring counties to repay a share of costs spent on Medicaid for county residents. Low income and disabled Florida residents can apply for Medicaid and are granted either free or reduced fees for health insurance and medical services based on income and asset eligibility.
The new law would make Florida counties pay more than $300 million in disputed billings. The counties suing the State claim the Florida electronic billing system is loaded with errors and they will be unfairly charged for residents of other counties.
For example, the counties filing the lawsuit claim any individual who has Medicaid but doesn’t list his/her county (or lists it incorrectly) defaults to Alachua County because it is first in the alphabetical.order of counties. Counties cite many similar billing errors and state there are too many errors which will force counties to pay for bills belonging to residents of different counties.
Medicaid billing and eligibility is complicate on all levels: the federal level, the state level, and patient level. Anyone in need of Medicaid or medical assistance can benefit from consulting with an elder law attorney to understand eligibility and patient rights.
Getting Legal Help
Experienced Florida Elder Law Attorney Maura Curran can help you understand all your options for long term care and she can also help you create an estate plan which makes estate administration easier for your loved ones and your personal representative. Contact us today at 561.935.9763 and toll free 855.873.7268.
