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Patrick C. Smith Jr.

Think Different Legal Group

Patrick C. Smith Jr.

Think Different Legal Group

Patrick C. Smith Jr.

Think Different Legal Group

Background: Mr. Patrick C. Smith, Jr. earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Emory University School of Law, where he was an Atlanta Law School Fellowship recipient. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy, and also a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. Mr. Smith is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; Medicaid Practice SystemsTM National Network; Elder Law Answers; Georgia Bar Association and its Elder Law Section; American Bar Association; Augusta Bar Association and its Family Law Bar Association. He is licensed to practice law in all state courts in Georgia, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. Mr. Smith, principal and founder of The Smith Law Firm, P.C., opened his own practice years ago and has been active in his law practice, focusing on wealth preservation strategies, Medicaid Planning, estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate and trust administration. Mr. Smith is dedicated to providing comprehensive, highly personalized Medicaid and estate planning counsel to couples, families and individuals. As the firm's founder, he holds the highest standard of client service, scholarship and lawyer accessibility. He serves his clients by listening closely to their goals, dreams and concerns and working with them to develop superior and comprehensive plans. Mr. Smith maintains the highest level of knowledge and expertise through ongoing continuing education and frequent attendance at nationally recognized conferences on most current information on Medicaid Planning techniques, advanced planning concepts, strategies and changes in the law. Mr. Smith is also a lecturer on Medicaid Planning and estate preservation strategies for individuals and families, and a speaker for seminars on the subjects of estate planning and Medicaid eligibility. 

Firm Description

Think Different Legal Group (formerly The Smith Law Firm) is dedicated to providing you & your family with prompt, expert legal advice in many areas of elder law, medicaid planning and estate planning. Services Include: Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Medicaid Planning, Qualification, & Asset Protection

Hours

Day From To
Monday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

Cost

What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

3549 Wheeler Road
Augusta, GA 30909

349 Margie Drive, Ste. 120
Warner Robins, GA 31088

487 Cherry Street
Third Floor
Macon, GA 31201

2434 Wall Street S.E., Ste. B
Conyers, GA 30013

1921 Whittlesey Road, Ste. 530
Columbus, GA 31904

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Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In 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.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To 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.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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What Medicaid Covers

In 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.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To 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.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

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Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If 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.

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Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There 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.

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Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

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Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

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Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare'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.

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ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We 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.

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Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We 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.

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Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand 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.

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Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

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Retirement Planning

We 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.

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Senior Living

Find 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.

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Social Security

Get 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.

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Special Needs Planning

Learn 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.

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Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

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