At Bridget Dyer Law, we help individuals and families plan for the financial and legal challenges associated with long-term care and government benefits. Thoughtful advance planning can help preserve assets, protect eligibility for benefits, and provide greater security for you and the people you love.

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MEDICAID PLANNING

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The cost of long-term care can have a significant impact on a family's financial security. Medicaid planning is designed to help individuals prepare for the possibility of future long-term care while preserving assets to the extent permitted by law.

Because Medicaid eligibility is subject to detailed financial rules and, for nursing-home Medicaid, a five-year look-back period, advance planning can provide significantly more options. Strategies may include the use of a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, appropriate transfers and asset restructuring, and careful planning regarding the family home and other assets.

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At Bridget Dyer Law, we work with clients and their families to develop a plan based upon their individual circumstances, assets, and long-term goals. Whether you are planning well in advance or facing a more immediate need for long-term care, we can help you understand the options available and develop an appropriate strategy.

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SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING

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Planning for a loved one with special needs requires careful consideration of both their long-term financial security and their potential eligibility for means-tested government benefits. An inheritance or gift left directly to a person receiving certain benefits can unintentionally affect that eligibility.

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Supplemental Needs Trusts, also commonly known as Special Needs Trusts, can allow assets to be held and used for the benefit of a person with disabilities while preserving eligibility for qualifying government assistance programs. These trusts can be incorporated into a parent's or other family member's estate plan or, depending upon the circumstances, established as a separate trust.

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At Bridget Dyer Law, we help families create Special and Supplemental Needs Trusts tailored to the beneficiary's circumstances and coordinate those trusts with the family's overall estate plan. Our goal is to provide for your loved one's future while preserving access to the benefits and resources upon which they may depend.