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Legal actions against community spouses seeking reimbursement for the care of the other spouse were infrequent years ago. Now, state budget pressures have substantially increased the likelihood that  community spouses will face Medicaid recovery claims. Ely J. Rosenzveig & Associates has an impressive track record of defeating or minimizing these claims....

Everyone receiving Medicaid benefits in New York should keep fully informed and up to date on all the changes that became effective on January 1, 2022. The New York Office of Health Insurance Programs (NYOHIP) recently released their “2022 Medicaid Levels and Other Updates,” announcing the new income and resource limits for NY Medicaid eligibility....

For years, the New York Durable Power of Attorney Statutory Short Form was a source of problems for both the principal who was granting power of attorney (POA), and for the agent to whom authority was granted. The law required elder law attorneys and other professionals who draft POAs to use only the identical words and phrases  spelled out in the statutory form or risk having the POA rejected by financial institutions and others....

A tax transfer certificate is a document issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service certifying that a United States citizen who died while living abroad does not owe the federal government any estate taxes. Banks and financial services companies require an IRS tax transfer certificate before they release any of the assets held with the decedent named as an account owner....

The law firm of Ely J. Rosenzveig and Associates has extensive experience creating estate plans that preserve the wealth that you accumulated through decades of effort for those whom you choose to benefit. Through the creation of appropriate legal instruments, the tax burden borne by your estate can be minimized instead of suffering from New York’s Estate Tax “Cliff.”...

When people think of an estate plan, many first think of a Last Will and Testament, or Will. The Will is truly the hallmark document of any estate plan. This is a document that allows a testator (or, a person who has created a Will), to designate beneficiaries who will inherit property such as cash, real estate, personal property, and other assets such as bank and brokerage accounts, from their estate. ...

The key to understanding New York’s Medicaid program coverages and services is to remember that there are two levels of Medicaid: Institutional (Chronic) Medicaid, or nursing home care, and Community Medicaid or home care. The income limits and resource caps for eligibility are a bit different for each plan....

A special needs or supplemental needs trust (SNT) receives and holds assets for the exclusive benefit of a person who is disabled. The key feature of the SNT is that it is not considered a reachable or countable asset of the disabled beneficiary for the purposes of qualifying for means-tested government programs. Specifically, a SNT does not jeopardize its beneficiary’s  eligibility to receive public benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicaid....

When a person applies for Medicaid, the New Jersey Family Care Eligibility Determining Agency (EDA) verifies the information. The EDA examines each transfer made by a Medicaid applicant within a five-year “look-back period.” If an applicant violates this rule and is found to have gifted or sold an asset for less than fair market value, the agency will impose a penalty period (“a period of Medicaid ineligibility”)....

A New York medical power of attorney, also known as a “health care proxy,” is a legal document that allows a patient to grant authority to a trusted individual (known as an “agent”, “proxy”, or an “attorney-in-fact”) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they are incapacitated. ...

On December 15th of last year, the State of New York introduced a new law that made significant changes to the New York power of attorney (“POA”). These changes took effect on June 13, 2021. Note that the new law won’t have any effect on the validity of existing, duly executed POAs, and the Statutory Gifts Riders, as they will all be grandfathered in....

The FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) is a Form FinCEN 114. The Bank Secrecy Act details the FBAR filing requirements. This form must be filed electronically with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the Treasury Department....

Probate court is a proceeding in which a deceased person's assets and property are transferred to those named to inherit them. The probate process can be time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating. It’s wise to take action now to spare your family and friends the headaches if possible. ...

In New York, an agent designated in a durable POA can only act on the principal’s behalf after he or she signs the power of attorney in front of two adult witnesses, and a notary public.  The language included in the document must also meet certain statutory requirements....

Spousal refusal is a legal Medicaid planning strategy in New York. Spousal refusal, also known as “just say no,” is when a non-applicant, or “community” spouse of a long-term care Medicaid applicant refuses to assist with the cost of long-term care for their spouse....

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that provides a trusted individual (known as the agent or attorney-in-fact) with the authority to act for another person (the principal). ...

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