| Dear Friends, Family, & Clients,
In this edition, we take the opportunity to remind you it may be time for a review of your estate planning documents. If it has been 5 years or more since your documents were reviewed by an attorney, we recommend a review. There may be changes to your family circumstances that should be reflected in your documents. For example, many people name their spouse as their Attorney in Fact in their Power of Attorney. However, if your spouse's health is in decline, you may wish to have a child or other trusted family member take on that responsibility. In addition, 5 years always means changes to the law. Those law changes could have an effect on your documents.
We also take this opportunity to introduce Clifton Dennis as a new associate attorney at Severns and Stinson. Mr. Dennis was admitted to the Indiana State Bar in October 2009. He received his law degree from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 2009. In addition, he received his BS in Public Affairs, with concentration in Legal Studies from Indiana University Bloomington in 2006. Cliff is a member of the American Bar Association, Indiana Bar Association, and the Indianapolis Bar Association. He is also a member at the Century Lodge No. 764 F&AM. Cliff grew up in Fort Wayne and has now relocated to Indianapolis.
We hope you continue to find this newsletter helpful and information. We also continue to welcome your feedback, appreciate your referrals and encourage you to forward the newsletter to others who could benefit.
Sincerely,
Severns & Stinson--Pathfinders in Elder Law |
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Elder Law News from Severns & Stinson
May 2010
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Severns & Stinson. P.C.
10293 N. Meridian Street
Suite 150
Indianapolis, Indiana 46290
(317) 817-0300
(317) 817-0302 Fax
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Attorney Spotlight
Lindsay Knowles, Clifton Dennis, Anna Howard, and Jamie Strahlendorf attended the Indiana Senior Law Project's "Medicaid in Indiana for the Elderly and Disabled."
The seminar focused on the latest updates to Indiana Medicaid law.
The attorneys at Severns & Stinson are available to make free, educational presentations regarding long term care planning and other issues relevant to seniors and their families. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, please contact us at (317) 817-0300.
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If
you answer yes to any of these questions, Severns & Stinson can
help.
-Has a family member been diagnosed with a mentally
or physically debilitating disorder such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS,
stroke or a decline in functional capacity?
-Is a family member isolated due to the recent death
of a spouse, or have family that either lives too far away or is too busy to
provide adequate care?
-Is a family member soon to be discharged into a care
facility or currently receiving in-home care?
-Does a family member have a variety of healthcare
providers and need coordination and advocacy for quality care?
-Does a family member seem unusually concerned about
costs of medication and services, indicating he or she may be having financial
troubles?
-Does a family member have assets that fall between
$50,000 and $400,000 - enough to finance a short stay in a care facility but not
enough for an extended stay?
-Does a family member have a spouse whose financial
needs must be considered in light of a family member's medical condition?
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Steps to Take in Advance of Death or Disability
 Although none of us wants to
contemplate a time when we or a loved one might become disabled or die, it is
important to be prepared. There are many steps families can take in advance of
death or disability to avoid future conflicts or uncertainties. Read on |
Powers of Attorney Come in Different Flavors
A power of attorney is a very
important estate planning tool, but in fact there are several different kinds of
powers of attorney that can be used for different purposes. Before executing
this crucial document, it is important to understand what your options
are. Read on |
Social Security Adds New Online Medicare Application
Time was when Medicare
eligibility and one's full retirement age for Social Security were both 65, but
that's no longer the case. The Social Security Administration has just launched
a new service that allows people to enroll online for their Medicare benefits
even if they are not yet ready to file for Social Security benefits. Read on |
Getting Medicare While Traveling or Living Overseas
Many retirees look forward to
traveling in their retirement, and more and more are actually retiring to
another, often less expensive, country. But what happens to Medicare coverage
while traveling or living in another land? Read on
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The
Financial Health of Aging Seniors
With our current economic challenges, those of us looking forward to
retirement need to be well-informed about our financial needs in coming
years. And not only pre-retirees, but individuals already in retirement
need to be wise to the changing economic environment. The good news is
there are trained professionals who keep abreast of changes in the
current economy, changes in laws and changes in government programs for
the elderly. Read on |
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| About Our Law Firm
Severns & Stinson, P.C. is a law firm focused on the needs of families confronting issues with health care. We have a special emphasis on long term care issues -- an emphasis that has come to be known as "elder law." Our firm consists of five attorneys and two paraprofessionals.
Our services include the following:
- Asset Protection & Long Term Care Planning
- Medicaid Planning, Applications and Appeals
- Medicare Consultation and Advocacy
- Estate Planning
- "Making It Last"™ - Supplemental Needs Trusts and Asset Protection for Persons with Disabilities
- Response Team Building - Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Declarations and Other Advance Directives
- Guardianships and Probate Administration
- Patients Rights and Care Advocacy.
Severns & Stinson. P.C.
10293 N. Meridian Street, Suite 150
Indianapolis, Indiana 46290
317.817-0300
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