Medicaid Planning

December 27, 2008

Jacksonville Florida Guardianship Process

Having a Florida Guardian appointed involves two separate court determinations. The first court proceeding is the Incapacity proceeding where the Florida court determines whether the person is incapacitated as defined by Florida law. The second Guardianship proceeding is where the Florida court actually determines who will serve a guardian. All Guardians are required to be represented by a Florida Lawyer (See Florida Probate Rule 5.030(a) ), submit to a criminal background check, and take an 8 hour course in Guardianship duties within 9 months of being appointed.

Step 1: (Determine Capacity). See Florida Statute

Florida’s Guardianship Statutes have been written to protect our freedom and independence. Therefore, the courts presume a person has capacity and is able to make decisions on their own until adjudicated by the courts to not have capacity. (See Florida Probate Rules 5.550 and Florida Probate Rule 5.030(a)” target=new>Florida Statute 744.3201 for what must be contained in the Petition to Determine Capacity).

December 19, 2008

Confusion over 2008/2009 RMD Suspension by Congress

by David M. Goldman

There seems to be articles misquoting the Suspension of RMDs by Congress. Congress has not suspended the 2008 RMDs. As of this time The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 is awaiting the President’s signature.

One of the provisions of the bill is the suspension of required minimum distributions (RMDs) for 2009 ONLY.

This applies to all RMDs from IRAs and employer plans for account owners AND beneficiaries. This temporary suspension will not affect an individual’s required beginning date. An individual who turns 70 ½ in 2008 and chooses to defer their first distribution to April 1, 2009 must still take that distribution.

December 18, 2008

Florida Attorney General Warns Seniors of dangers with “Free Lunch” investment Scams

by David M. Goldman

Senior citizens in Florida are being warned to think before going to financial planning seminars and estate-preservation workshops that offer a “free lunch” or “free dinner” to lure seniors to attend.

The Florida AG’s Office has received more than a dozen complaints from seniors enticed to attend a free meal that actually turned out to be a high-pressure sales pitch for investments that may be entirely inappropriate based on age and financial circumstance.

In quoting Attorney General Bill McCollum, the Naples Daily News reported that “The last thing our seniors need during this economic climate when their retirement savings may be dwindling is an investment scam that further depletes that nest egg”. “Too many of our seniors are finding that these free meals can cost them dearly.” The invitations often arrive by phone or mail and promise tips on earning great financial returns with minimal risk, eliminating taxes or avoiding probate. After a high-pressure presentation, salespeople then try to schedule follow-up visits in the homes of those who attend so they can continue the pitch. In addition to losing money, consumers who complained to the Attorney General reported being badgered by many unsolicited phone calls and frustrated by misrepresentation of the seminar’s purpose.

December 17, 2008

Floirda Medicaid and New Caregiving website

by David M. Goldman

Leanna Hamill, a Massachusetts Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney, has an article on a new website Videocaregiving.org. She states that the videos are designed to be short, simple, and direct. They easily accessed by users 24 hours a day and cover the tasks and daily activities for caregivers.

If you need help with a Florida Medicaid Application Contact a Florida Elder Law Attorney

December 14, 2008

Problems with Trust Kits

by David M. Goldman

A Michigan Estate Planning Lawyer Blog has written another article on Problems with Michigan Trust Kits. While we have reported on these issues many times in Florida, there appear to be similar problems in other states. Christopher Berry, a Michigan Estate Planning Attorney, points out that Michigan citizens have lost over $200,000 because of poorly drafted Revocable Trust .

In addition, many of these Estate Planning Kits do not take Elder law issues into account when filling out the generic forms for individuals and their families. Please contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer to discuss your individual needs.

November 26, 2008

Elder Law Mediation Resolves Family Conflicts

by David M. Goldman

The National Care Planning Councel has an article on Elder Law Mediation as a non-adversarial approach to solving disputes. Mediation is a process of bringing two or more disputing parties together and having them mutually negotiate a solution to their disagreement. The mediator is not a judge and does not render a decision but is there to make sure that communication flows freely between the disputing parties. Elder Mediators are trained in the art of negotiating resolutions between elderly parents and family members.

Mediation can achieve results that the family by itself may not be capable of realizing or have the expertise of achieving. Here are some reasons that make Elder Mediation so valuable.

• A trained expert on communication gives the family a perspective it could not gain by meeting together on its own;

November 3, 2008

River Garden Foundation Gala In Jacksonville

by David M. Goldman

The 16th annual River Garden Gala will be held on Saturday November 8th, 2008 at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort.

The Sawgrass Marriott Resort is at 1000, PGA Tour Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

This event is to benefit River Garden Wolfson Health & Aging Center and is a Black Tie event for more information on the fund raiser call (904) 262-1818, ext. 222.

June 11, 2008

LIMITATIONS OF POWERS OF THE ATTORNEY IN FACT AND LIMITATIONS IN FLORIDA

by David M. Goldman

POWERS OF THE ATTORNEY IN FACT AND LIMITATIONS IN FLORIDA

Except as otherwise limited by statute (below), by other applicable law, or by the durable power of attorney, the attorney in fact has full authority to perform, without prior court approval, every act authorized and specifically enumerated in the durable power of attorney. Such authorization may not include:

1. Perform duties under a contract that requires the exercise of personal services of the principal;

June 10, 2008

PROPERTY SUBJECT TO DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY IN FLORIDA

by David M. Goldman

PROPERTY SUBJECT TO DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY IN FLORIDA.
Unless otherwise stated in the Florida durable power of attorney, the durable power of attorney applies to any interest in property owned by the principal, including, without limitation, the Principal’s interest in all real property, including homestead real property; all personal property, tangible or intangible; all property held in any type of joint tenancy, including a tenancy in common, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, or a tenancy by the entirety; all property over which the principal holds a general, limited, or special power of appointment; chooses in action; and all other contractual or statutory rights or elections, including, but not limited to, any rights or elections in any probate or similar proceeding to which the principal is or may become entitled.

If you have questions about the validity or scope of your Florida Durable Power of Attorney Contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer

June 9, 2008

Guardianship and Durable Power of Attorney in Florida

by David M. Goldman

Once an Agent (Attorney in fact) receives written notice which requires a signature, their powers under the Durable Power of Attorney are suspended until the court determines incapacity. The court may reinstate the Durable Power of Attorney for an emergency, when a petition if file upon the court showing the nature of the emergency, the property or matter involved, and the power to be exercised by the attorney in fact.

Notwithstanding the provisions above, a proceeding to determine incapacity must not affect any authority of the attorney in fact to make health care decisions for the principal, including, but not limited to, those defined in chapter 765, unless otherwise ordered by the court. If the principal has executed a health care advance directive designating a health care surrogate pursuant to chapter 765, the terms of the directive will control if the two documents are in conflict unless the durable power of attorney is later executed and expressly states otherwise.

If the person has not received written notice of the proceeding for which they were required to sign for, any third party may rely upon the authority granted in a durable power of attorney that is not conditioned on the principal’s lack of capacity to manage property until the third party has received the required notice. A third party may, but need not, require the attorney in fact to execute an affidavit.

If the Durable Power of Attorney is deployment contingent, any third party may rely upon the authority granted in a durable power of attorney to manage property as defined in Florida Statute 744.102(11)(a) only after receiving the affidavits provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), and such reliance shall end when the third party has received notice.
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