Recently, I wrote about the changes to the estate tax laws, both federal and New Jersey estate tax. The upshot of my article was, unless you are...
Eldercare Lawyer Blog
The Estate and Gift Tax Are Dead!
For years, I have been writing about the federal estate and federal gift tax, and my message has been fairly consistent—Most people don’t have to...
The Benefits of Choosing for Yourself in Planning
Who would make decisions for you if you couldn’t make decisions for yourself? Does the person you would choose know that you want him to make...
Looking Back at a Year That Shifted the Conversation
The death of the New Jersey estate tax will soon be upon us. In 2017, the credit against New Jersey estate tax (technically called the credit...
Income-Only Trust Assessed Correctly
Recently, Meghan Davey, the Director of the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, issued a final agency decision that...
Do I Need a Will? Understanding the Importance of Estate Planning
One of the biggest impediments to an individual writing a last will and testament and other, important estate planning documents is...
Will the Repeal of the Estate Tax Help or Hurt You?
Recently, President Trump put forth a proposal to repeal the federal estate tax. Under existing law, estates with a gross value in excess of...
Spousal Income Allowance
When a spouse enters a nursing home, the healthy spouse is often concerned about her ability to continue to support herself. For instance,...
Time To Revisit Your Estate Plan
Recently, the New Jersey estate tax was modified. Prior to 2017, an estate with a gross value greater than $675,000 was potentially subject to New...
Can an Adult Child Be Forced To Support his Parent?
Can an adult child be held responsible to pay for the long term care costs of his parent in New Jersey? This is a concept called filial...
Increasing the Personal Needs Allowance
Recently, the state of New Jersey increased the amount of money that a Medicaid beneficiary can retain from his income when he is living in a...
Declaring an Estate Insolvent
When a person dies, the affairs of his estate must be wrapped up or administered. This process is called estate administration. The person who...
How To Apply for Medicaid Benefits
Medicaid is a government health payment plan for needy individuals. If a person qualifies for Medicaid, it will pay for many of the costs...
One Lawyer’s Advocacy
Am I ineligible for Medicaid? Recently, the New Jersey Medicaid program issued a letter increasing the uncompensated asset transfer penalty...
What Exactly Is a Trust Protector?
In my practice, I draft a lot of trusts. There are various reasons why a trust may be the appropriate solution for a client. At its core, a trust...
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Recent Posts
Gift Tax: The Mouse That Roared
If I had to list the top five questions I hear from clients, questions about gift tax would definitely be on that list. People are fascinated with gift tax. I find people's fascination with gift tax a bit humorous because so few people are affected by the tax. I would...
Medicaid Managed Care
New Jersey's Medicaid program may be switching from a fee-for-service ("FFS") program to a managed care organization ("MCO") program. Should you be concerned? Yes, you should, and here's why. Medicaid is a health insurance program for needy individuals, individuals...
Naming Co-Agents
I draft numerous last wills and testaments, financial powers of attorney, and advanced healthcare directives. I would say that over the course of my career, I have drafted tens of thousands of these documents. I have met with thousands and thousands of clients and...
The Well-Drafted Power of Attorney
I believe that anyone over the age of eighteen should have a financial power of attorney document. A power of attorney is a document that allows one person, called the "agent," to make financial decisions for another person, called the "principal." I say that anyone...
Federal Court Victory For Disabled
Last week, a federal judge entered a preliminary injunction against the state of New Jersey in a federal lawsuit that I filed involving transfers to disabled children in the context of the Medicaid program. Medicaid is a medical assistance program for needy...
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