Canton Elder Law Attorney

Seniors face many complex decisions and legal questions, and clear, objective guidance on how best to navigate these issues is hard to find. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choices about long-term care planning and how you’ll afford it, but help you can trust is available. The Law Office of Brian S. Karpe, LLC can provide the guidance you need to navigate end-of-life legal issues. Canton elder law attorney Brian S. Karpe has not just been a practicing attorney for over thirty years; he has earned the advanced degree of a Masters in Law focused on elder law and estate planning. Contact the Law Office of Brian S. Karpe, LLC for a free initial consultation to find out how he can help you thrive in your golden years.

• Advanced Directives
• Asset Protection
• Conservatorship
• Elder Care
• Estate Planning
• Estate & Gift Taxation
• Estate & Trust Litigation
• Guardianship
• Healthcare Power of Attorney
• Healthcare Surrogate
• Living Wills
• Medicaid Planning
• Power of Attorney
• Probate
• Revocable Living Trust
• Special Needs Trust
• Trust Administration
• Trusts
• Wills

Get help when applying for Title 19 benefits

Long-term care is incredibly expensive when paid for out of pocket. In fact, according to a survey of average nursing home daily costs in the area of Hartford, Connecticut, the average price for nursing home residential care is roughly $415 per day, adding up to nearly $150,000 per year. In-home or residential long-term care would be completely unaffordable for the average Connecticut resident without financial help. While long-term care insurance can be a good choice for those who are able to plan ahead, it isn’t an option for everyone.

For many Hartford seniors, their best and only choice is to qualify for long-term care benefits through Medicaid. If you began the process of applying for Medicaid benefits, you might have given up when you learned that in order to be eligible for Medicaid, an applicant in the state of Connecticut must possess $1,600 or less in assets. However, this is not the end of the story when it comes to qualifying for Medicaid benefits for long-term senior care. For example, certain exemptions exist for items including the applicant’s residence, as well as for money intended to be used for burial expenses.

Qualifying for Medicaid benefits can be complex, but it isn’t impossible. Hartford elder law attorney Brian S. Karpe has studied elder law issues extensively and helped hundreds of seniors as they apply for the government benefits they need. In addition to Medicaid Title XIX benefits, there are additional assistance sources for Connecticut seniors and veterans. Hartford area elder law attorney Brian S. Karpe can present all available options to you and guide you in applying for the benefits that fit your needs.

A Special Needs Trust can help simplify the process of applying for long-term care benefits

Special needs trusts provide a way for seniors to set aside money for critical expenses, such as certain medical equipment or personal care costs, without rendering themselves ineligible for government benefits such as Medicaid. Funds from a special needs trust are not controlled by the beneficiary of the trust, but instead by a trustee that you select when creating the trust. Brian S. Karpe, an experienced Canton trust and elder law attorney, can help you decide if a special needs trust could be useful for you and your family.

Tips to guide your long-term care planning

• Spend your money on yourself while you have it. Many seniors are reluctant to spend their hard-earned savings on themselves, either out of fear that they will spend down their savings too soon or out of hope that they will be able to pass as much as possible along to their heirs when they go. However, hanging on to large cash assets can interfere with your ability to qualify for Medicaid assistance and still might not be enough to help you afford long-term care for yourself and your spouse. Rather than hanging on to cash, spend these funds while you can enjoy them. You deserve to enjoy your sunset years, and your heirs want you to do so, as well. Plus, a seasoned Hartford area estate planning attorney can help you strategize other ways to provide for your heirs that would not interfere with your qualification for long-term care benefits.
• Be careful about transferring assets. Since Medicaid qualification requires that applicants have a very low amount of assets in their name, many applicants think that transferring their assets to a family member or loved one will help them avoid disqualification. However, all transfers within five years of your application for benefits are subject to scrutiny by those reviewing your application for benefits. An impermissible transfer of assets could result in either a denial of your application or the imposition of a penalty period that must pass before benefits are paid.
• Invest in your home. Instead of accruing savings, first make sure that your home mortgage is paid off. Very few assets are exempt from consideration when applying for Medicaid benefits, but your home is one of them.
• Consult an attorney who understands the nuances of elder law. A select few attorneys in the state of Connecticut have pursued additional study in the area of elder law. Canton elder law attorney Brian S. Karpe is one of a small group who has earned his LL.M., or Master of Laws, with a focus on estate planning and elder law. This makes him uniquely equipped to guide you and your spouse and family through the countless decisions involved in end-of-life care.

Dedicated Help With Elder Law Matters in Canton and Surrounding Areas

For help with elder law issues in Canton and throughout Hartford County, Litchfield and Waterbury, call on the Law Office of Brian S. Karpe, LLC to guide you and assist you with compassion, care and competence.

Share This Page: