Does a Specific Bequest in a Will Need to Be Appraised?
Does a specific bequest in a will need to be appraised?
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See the AnswerIf a resident (with dementia) of a nursing home goes to the emergency room, is the nursing home required to provide them with an escort?
See the AnswerMy aunt has an irrevocable trust with her home. However, she wants to dissolve that trust now and give the house to me and my wife to live in as our primary residence. What and how do I calculate the capital gains?
See the AnswerIf I sign an affidavit of heirship because my father died and left no will, but the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program in Texas hasn't taken any action (two years have passed since his death), can they take my land if I sell the house to recoup the money I got for selling my father's home?
See the AnswerMy sister and I, along with two other people we hired, provide care and help for our 95-year-old father, who remains in his home. It's getting to the point that we will move him into my house, and we would like to sell his house. What is the best strategy to sell the house from a tax perspective? Should Dad gift the ho...
See the AnswerMy dad, who is 95 years old and a veteran, is in an assisted living facility and receives Aid and Attendance. His monthly rent at the facility just went up by $350. He is struggling to make ends meet. Can I, as his daughter, help him pay his bills? Will it affect his Aid and Attendance benefits? Could I potentially gif...
See the AnswerIf the community spouse dies, who gets the home? The nursing home spouse does not have her name on the home.
See the AnswerAs executor of an estate, do I have to supply all beneficiaries with the final tax return and all the bank statements?
See the AnswerMy parents need to sell their house to go into an assisted living facility. They want to sell it to their granddaughter. How will this affect Medicaid down the road (as they will need it within a year of selling)?
See the AnswerCan I purchase my cousin's home for only what she owes while she’s on Medicaid?
See the AnswerFind basic articles that clearly explain essential topics in the field of elder law, like Medicaid, Medicare, estate planning, and Social Security.
Learn More About EldercareSocial Security recipients who need to change their direct deposit information and cannot prove their identity online will have to go to a Social Security Administration office to do so.
Read moreCaring.com has released its 2025 Senior Happiness Index, which sheds light on the states where seniors are the most content, enjoy the most connection with others, and live the longest.
Read moreDownload one or more of our in-depth guides on elder law topics.
Get your GuideEvery state's Medicaid program is unique. We have collected the key eligibility rules for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Find Medicaid informationThe new survey reveals the startling misconception that 58 percent of Americans believe Medicare will cover the costs of long-term care.
Read moreA recent survey of American adults aged 50 to 94 finds that many seniors are unprepared for the financial and logistical aspects of long-term care, with widespread misconceptions about coverage options.
Read moreIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MOREIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MORELearn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MORE