Indiana Elder Law News

Indiana Medicaid Planning
Major changes in federal Medicaid law (Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) are still being implemented in Indiana. These changes will have a major impact on Medicaid planning. The look back period will be extended from thirty six months to sixty months. Major changes to ability to transfer assets are expected.
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Indiana Estate Planning
If you die without a will in Indiana, state law provides a 'will' for you (called intestate succession). For a person married with children, the surviving spouse can expect to keep only half of the probate assets with the rest being given away to immediate family members. Few people want this outcome. This is why it is vitally important to have a valid will in Indiana.
More Indiana Estate Planning
Indiana Long Term Care Insurance Program
The Indiana Long Term Care Insurance Program (ILTCIP) is an innovative partnership between the State of Indiana and private long term care insurance companies. Indiana has taken the lead in helping its residents protect their hard-earned life savings from the high cost of long term care.
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Avoid Indiana Probate
There are easy and powerful things you could be doing right now to keep most of your assets out of probate. These methods don't require living trusts.
More Information On Indiana Wills
Medicare Issues
No more waiting lists and additional support for transportation, nutrition and housing services are key parts of the State's Aging Reform Agenda in 2008. Steve Smith, director of the FSSA Division of Aging, noted that wait lists are being reduced already. The goal is to eliminate the lists totally in 2008. By using more State funds to leverage Federal matching dollars, 8,000 older Hoosiers from the wait list are now receiving services.

Indiana Estate Planning

Estate Planning deals with financial and medical decision-making at the end of life and the administration and distribution of your assets at your death. Put another way, estate planning in Indiana deals with who makes financial and healthcare decisions when you can’t. It also deals with who gets your stuff after you die. Proper estate planning can assure you that your medical and financial decisions will be made by whom you want and your assets will go to whom you want.

Every Indiana Estate Plan should have these elements.

Every Hoosier needs a will. This is true even if you have a living trust in place to avoid probate. The will acts as a safeguard in the event some assets are not handled properly in the estate plan. For example, someone with a living trust fails to transfer the house to the trust before death. Without a simple will in place, the house could go to someone you did not want to get it.

Every Hoosier needs a healthcare power of attorney. This legal document tells doctors and hospitals whom you want to make medical decisions. It can also express your preferences for end of life care.

Every Hoosier needs a financial power of attorney. This legal document provides whomever you pick with the power to make financial decisions for you as if it was you. Financial powers of attorney can start as soon as you sign them. They can also be set up so they don’t start until you can’t make financial decisions for yourself.