In this article, our Saint Charles elder law attorneys explain the purpose of power of attorney forms. In a financial power of attorney, you can appoint a loved one to manage your finances if you become mentally incompetent to do so through old age, accident, or disease. A healthcare power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make non-financial decisions for you, such as healthcare decisions. If you execute both a healthcare power of attorney and financial power of attorney while still mentally competent, a costly, stressful, and time-consuming guardianship proceeding will not be necessary in order to allow your loved ones to care for you if you become mentally disabled.

Read the full article by our Saint Charles elder law attorneys explaining the use of powers of attorney in estate plans.

In this article, our Saint Charles elder law attorneys explain how to plan for long-term care. Unfortunately, due to the expense of long-term care, many families rely on Medicaid to cover the costs of some or all of the expense. In order to qualify for Medicaid benefits, you must have already "spent down" substantially all of your own assets. With the proper planning at least five-years in advance of requiring Medicaid, you may be able to ensure that you can receive Medicaid asisstance while still preserving your assets for your family after you pass.

Read the full article by our Saint Charles elder lawyers explaining Medicaid planning and long-term care.

In this article, our Saint Charles elder law attorneys explain how to protect a healthy spouse's assets when the other spouse needs to apply for long-term care and take advantage of Medicaid benefits. We discuss the Community Spouse Resource Allowance, which allow the healthy spouse to retain certain assets and enough income to live on, while the spouse in long-term care can remain eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Read the full article by our Saint Charles elder lawyers explaining the Community Spouse Resource Allowance in Illinois.