As we age, new questions arise. How will I pay for long-term care? Will I have anything left for my children if I need care in a facility? The good news is that, with proper planning, we can help preserve your funds with a variety of strategies the law allows. Most people leave our meetings with huge relief knowing that the law does provide protections; you just need to know how to utilize them.

If long-term care is imminent, we know how overwhelming that can be for you and your family. We are here to help you navigate those tough decisions related to care facilities and the finances of long-term care. It is not too late to discuss options to preserve the assets you have worked hard to save. We also have connections to other professionals who can help you determine care needs, care settings, insurance options, and other questions that arise when long-term care is needed.

Don’t navigate this alone. Contact SAGE LEGAL GROUP to find out more about long-term care planning, such as:

• Medicaid eligibility planning

• Medicaid applications

• Gifting options

• Asset protection

• Asset preservation

• Irrevocable trusts

Dealing with the incapacity of a loved one is hard enough, and we know how difficult it is to navigate the court system. We have a great deal of experience navigating the guardianship process, and are here to help you through this process with compassion.

When a person becomes incompetent to handle their own medical and/or financial decisions, and Powers of Attorney are not in place, a guardianship is necessary to appoint a person to take over this decision-making authority. In some instances, you may find that a guardianship is still necessary even though powers of attorney are in place if they are not giving the protection and authority needed.

SAGE LEGAL GROUP can help you navigate the web of powers of attorney, conservatorship, and non-contested guardianship. We do not handle contested guardianships and can provide a referral if needed.

When you are receiving public benefits, and you receive assets that would put you over the program limit, it is important to act quickly to plan for receipt of the asset while maintaining your benefits. A special needs trust is a great tool that helps preserve your funds and your benefits. SAGE LEGAL GROUP has expertise with all types of special needs trusts, including self-drafted trusts, Wispact trusts, and Life Navigators trusts.

SAGE LEGAL GROUP can help you maintain public benefits after receiving countable assets, including:

• A personal injury settlement

• A gift or inheritance

• Social Security backpay

• Sale of a house

• Accumulation of countable assets

SAGE LEGAL GROUP also helps families create third-party supplemental needs trusts when family members wish to leave inheritance, or make gifts to a person with special needs.

We can also help clients understand the difference between special needs trusts and ABLE accounts, and when one or both should be utilized.