How Probate affects Real Estate Transactions
Is it better to transfer the title of the home to us, or to leave it as it is given her age and go through probate?
Ethan Huizenga
December 14, 2020
Farm succession planning needs to happen now
Develop a successful transition plan that will provide for you, your heirs and your business.
Ethan Huizenga
September 15, 2020
Keep the Family Vacation Home in the Family
Is it time you made a decision on the future of the wonderful getaway that everybody loves but only you maintain?
Ethan Huizenga
May 26, 2020
Watch Your Language: Gifting Power
QUOTE Effective long-term care planning can require gifting assets to a spouse or child. In Medicaid cases, assets must be transferred to the community spouse
Ethan Huizenga
February 12, 2019
In the News: Iowa’s Highest Court Rules Against Medicaid Applicant
Trusts can be a highly effective tool in nursing home planning. Certain types of trusts are effective even when a nursing home stay is imminent
Ethan Huizenga
January 29, 2019
Confused about Trusts? Let’s Talk About Buckets Instead
Across the board, legal documents can be confusing. Just think about the paperwork needed to take out a mortgage – the legalese is overwhelming. And
Ethan Huizenga
January 22, 2019
Watch Your Language: D.R.A.
In 2005, Congress passed legislation which, among many, many other things, changed the way a Medicaid applicant’s resources and past transfers are considered. This bill is called the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and was signed by the President on February 8, 2006.[Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
October 11, 2016
Watch Your Language: Penalty Divisor
If you’ve transferred assets within the lookback period, the state is going to assess an eligibility penalty period based on the value of all the transfers you made within that 60-month window. The penalty period can be calculated by dividing the value of that gift by the penalty divisor. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
July 26, 2016
Watch Your Language: Lookback Period
If you’ve heard anything about Medicaid, you’ve probably heard about the lookback period. In Iowa, the lookback period is the period of time starting with the day you apply for Medicaid and extending back through time for sixty months. We break that definition down after the jump. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
July 19, 2016
Devils, Details, and Deadlines: Calculating the Penalty Period
If you can’t prove you didn’t make a transfer to get on Medicaid, that transfer becomes a disallowed transfer. And that’s bad because a disallowed transfer means a penalty period will be imposed, delaying the time you are allowed to receive Medicaid coverage for the nursing home. The real question becomes: how do you calculate the penalty period? [Read More]
The length of the penalty period depends on the value of the assets transferred.
Ethan Huizenga
July 14, 2016
