Does your parent need home care, but you just don’t know how you’re going to afford it? Many options exist and determining which financial strategy is best for your loved ones can be hard to decipher. However, one option that can provide you with peace of mind is a pooled income trust. For example, with… Read More »
No one likes to think about his or her end of life, but you can’t avoid the inevitable. Planning financially for you and your family’s future can help put your mind at ease. Having a solid plan in place can ensure your family is well taken care of after you are gone. As such, a… Read More »
Recently I received a telephone call from a client looking to sell their home. The home had been transferred to a trust years earlier and they wanted to know if they would qualify for the $250,000 (per resident owner) capital gains exclusion on the sale of their home. Generally speaking, the Internal Revenue Code provides,… Read More »
Kelly is 24 years old. She is on the autism spectrum and is receiving SSI. She is doing her best to be independent, but the monthly stipend is limited and it is difficult to live on her own with minimal funds. What is her best option to keep her benefits and have the means to… Read More »
Please join us for our 8th Annual Elder Law Open Forum for Health Care Professionals on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at The Cuban of Garden City. Health Care professionals are invited to enjoy lunch with some of their colleagues and attorneys of Russo Law Group while receiving updates on elder laws and special needs. The… Read More »
Recently I received a call from a long-time client in a complete panic. She had been talking to her friend about the planning that they each implemented and the friend insisted that the client established the wrong trust for her niece. The niece is on government benefits and the friend had her convinced that if… Read More »
Interested in Learning Trusts? We will be hosting free educational seminars entitled, Trusts—Do I Need One? During these seminars, we will be discussing why someone may need a trust and which trust, irrevocable or revocable, would fit their situation best. Join us: August 10th from 9:30 am – 11:30 am at Russo Law Group Bay Shore Office… Read More »
It can be extremely upsetting to be told by a nursing home that your loved one must leave. Unfortunately, sometimes a nursing home will have an ulterior or nefarious reason to want to discharge a resident from the facility. Perhaps the resident is difficult. Or maybe the family members are being difficult. It may even… Read More »
I am excited to announce the release of an updated and expanded edition of my book, New York Elder Law and Special Needs Practice, which, much to my delight, has been and continues to be a working tool for many elder law and special needs practitioners. The new edition addresses the planning needs of everyone… Read More »
YES, YES, YES! If you are over the age of 18 (and chances are if you’re reading this you are), you should have a power of attorney. Unless you would rather leave it up to a judge. A power of attorney is a legal document where you are giving your agent(s) the power to sign… Read More »
The answer to the question “Are gifts made during my lifetime includible in my estate for estate tax purposes?” depends on several factors. Federal For purposes of the Federal Estate Tax, yes, any taxable gifts you make during your lifetime are includible in your estate. However, this does not necessarily mean that those gifts… Read More »
Join Vincent J. Russo for this Free Educational Seminar and Learn: How to Access Quality Long Term Care How to Pay for Long Term Care How to Protect your Assets and Income What will Happen if you Don’t have a Plan Date: Jul 17, 2019 Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Location: Borrelli’s Italian Restaurant… Read More »
Sometimes when a loved one passes away, an individual who believes he or she inherited assets from the decedent will be told at a bank or financial institution that they will need “Letters Testamentary” in order to collect those assets. The question most people have at that point is “What are Letters Testamentary?” Letters… Read More »
June is National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, a time to show support for the millions of people struggling with this debilitating disease—and, a good time to think about planning for the possibility of needing long-term care. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that leads to memory, thinking, and behavioral problems. It is… Read More »
Generally, the answer to this question is “No”. However, Medicaid does have a program, aptly named the “Assisted Living Program” (or “ALP”) that does provide Medicaid coverage for an assisted living. There are a number of facilities in New York, and about a half-dozen or so on Long Island, in the ALP program. Most assisted… Read More »