What To Expect

Ideally, at least five years before you might need care. In the state of Arkansas, long term care Medicaid for Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities can review, request and penalize any assets and transfers within the 60 months prior to application. Our recommendation is always to establish a secure Medicaid focused estate plan 5 years prior to care in an effort to protect all assets from any DHS scrutiny. If you were or are unable to plan 5 years before care is needed, our team specializes in setting up a “crisis plan” that protects as many assets as possible, while still achieving Medicaid eligibility as quickly as possible to get you or your loved one the care needed.

Absolutely! There are ways within the DHS guidelines and policies to protect your home if done correctly. Our team stays on top of current policies to verify that your assets, including your home, are protected even while filing for nursing facility Medicaid assistance.  

Yes! Per the DHS policies, every dollar gifted or transferred away is assigned a specific penalty and will impact the overall Medicaid case and eligibility and can result in a denial of benefits. 

The place to start is with an initial consultation with our team of experts to evaluate what your loved one has in the way of assets, what your goals are for placement or protection and how best to move forward to achieve those goals.

It is imperative to have any pre-existing trusts or estate planning documents reviewed by a Medicaid planning attorney to evaluate if those documents were set up according to the provisions and allowances within DHS policies and to determine if they will be accepted while applying for Medicaid benefits without making adjustments. 

Yes! Our initial consultation is free of charge and our team lays out any potential charges prior to any commitment on your part. 

We generally encourage you to bring a list of total financial assets including, but not limited to, bank accounts, investment accounts, property owned (both real and personal), current estate planning documents, etc. This allows our team of experts to review your current financial assets and determine how best to move forward to achieve your goals for planning.

Not at all! Our priority is to make sure that all families are set up to protect their assets, regardless of age. We provide early estate planning and asset protection for young families as well as planning for seniors and elder care.

If you have any assets, like a home, property, investments, etc. it is encouraged you review with an attorney the benefits of having a trust established. A Will ensures that your family, after your passing, will be required to open a probate on your estate. A Will gives the probate judge a guide of your wishes to follow. Establishing and funding a trust ensures your family will not have to open probate, and instead your assets will be allocated to your assigned beneficiaries per your specifications. A trust also ensures that while you are still living, your assets are protected in case of litigation or law suit. 

Any time your have a change in financial assets, moving or relocating from state to state,  family or beneficiaries, marital status or other life changes, you should review your estate plan with an expert to verify you are still protected appropriately and that your estate plan is still secure and accurate.