Asset Protection

Many families reach out to our firm for asset protection services when they become aware of a loved one at-risk for a long-term care crisis. It may be the individual, their spouse, or another family member who sees their loved one becoming more fragile. Maybe they are experiencing falls in their home, or maybe they have received the diagnosis of a chronic condition that requires daily assistance.

Any need for long-term care creates a fear of the unknown.

How is this going to affect my parent’s ability to stay at home? 

How much is this going to cost?

Will we outlive our money?

All of these questions and more can burden a family facing a long-term care crisis. Fortunately, our attorneys have the tools and expertise to help families prepare for the future and ease their worry. The earlier a family consults an elder law attorney, the more options they are likely to have.

What Is Asset Protection?

Asset Protection is a common strategy employed by elder law attorneys to preserve a portion, if not all, of the assets an individual or couple may have. This strategy can help stretch the funds needed for long-term care, or cover other needs that may present themselves later in life. This strategy can also facilitate the transfer of assets, in order to allow an individual access to public benefits.

The attorneys at Beck, Lenox & Stolzer Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC (Beck, Lenox & Stolzer) have been helping families successfully protect their assets for future needs since 1974. Our mission is to protect assets for our clients and make sure their assets will be distributed to the people they care about, and to make sure that any beneficiary who needs help in managing assets will get the assistance they need.

What Assets Can Be Protected?

Often, when an elder law attorney discusses Asset Protection with a client, it is for the purpose of qualifying the client for government assistance with Medicaid and/or with the Veterans Administration (VA) for long-term care needs. In both cases, certain assets are automatically protected or exempted from qualification requirements. Those include:

• Primary Residence:  Limit is $636,000 in home equity value for Medicaid in Missouri.  There is no home equity limit for VA benefits, but the house cannot be on more than two acres in most cases.
• Family Vehicle: One or two vehicles, depending upon circumstances.
• Unlimited Income and Unlimited Assets: Protected only in VA service-connected compensation cases.
• Personal Items: Such as furnishings, appliances, clothing and jewelry.
• Irrevocable Prepaid Burial Plan

If the client’s goal is to protect other assets in order to save them for their beneficiaries, a variety of trusts may be used for that purpose. 

Asset Protection Strategies

There are a variety of strategies that can be utilized to protect someone’s assets, depending on their circumstances. Here are a few strategies the attorneys at Beck, Lenox & Stolzer can help you navigate:

• Writing a Will
  Having a will and making use of Payment on Death (POD) and Transfer on Death (TOD) designations are basic strategies to protect someone’s assets. Without those basic measures, upon death, the estate will need to be probated. That will cost the family time and money.
• Establishing a Trust
  A trust may be a better option for someone who wants to make sure the assets will be used just as he or she dictates. A trust also avoids probate. This may include transferring assets into an irrevocable trust so that the individual at-risk for skilled care can access public funds when needed to pay for care.
• Medicaid Planning
  Medicaid planning is a common strategy for those concerned about needing skilled care and outliving their money.

How to Get Started

Upon scheduling a free asset protection consultation with one of our attorneys, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire that provides basic legal and financial information. Next, an in-person meeting will be scheduled with one of our attorneys to learn more about your situation and concerns. We will use that information to help you decide what Asset Protection strategies could best achieve your goals. Contact us today to book a call with one of the estate planning and asset protection attorneys at Beck, Lenox & Stolzer Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC.