IRS Announces That Face Masks and Related Purchases Are Tax Deductible
The IRS has announced that the tax deduction for medical expenses includes amounts spent on face masks, sanitizer and other products purchased to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. If you have significant medical expenses, you may be able to deduct them from...How the $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill Aids Seniors
President Biden has signed the latest COVID-19 relief bill, which in addition to authorizing stimulus checks, funding vaccine distribution, and extending unemployment benefits, also provides assistance to seniors in a number of ways. The $1.9 trillion American...Can I Transfer My Grandmother’s Car to My Name Without Causing a Medicaid Penalty Period?
This is something of a grey area. You must report most asset transfers to the Medicaid agency, and the transfer will usually cause a period of ineligibility for benefits. You could make an argument that the transfer of a noncountable asset does not need to be reported...Biden Administration Eases Recommended Restrictions on Nursing Home Visits
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance on whether families can visit loved ones in nursing homes. The guidance allows indoor visitation even when the resident has not been vaccinated. The coronavirus pandemic has hit...Why an Irrevocable Trust May Be Superior to Gifting
Parents and other family members who want to pass on assets during their lifetimes may be tempted to gift the assets. Although setting up an irrevocable trust lacks the simplicity of giving a gift, it may be a better way to preserve assets for the future. ...Using Estate Planning to Prepare for Medicaid
Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets for future generations. Long-term care can be very expensive,...
I’m the Personal Representative for Probate. How Do I Find The Assets?
When you become the personal representative of an estate, one of your functions is to locate the assets of the decedent. If the decedent was well organized and had an estate planning binder, that’s the first place to start. A well organized estate planning binder will...
Complete Guide to the Forms Required at the Maryland Register of Wills
Filing with the Maryland Register of Wills can be confusing. This article discusses the Maryland register of wills forms and everything you need to know before filing. If the decedent did not have a will, read our article on intestate succession (dying without a...