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How do I spend down assets for Medicaid?

Many older adults find in their later years that they need long-term care, whether in-home, in the community or in a nursing home. To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care benefits, a person must meet certain state income and asset guidelines. Much like the tax laws, the Medicaid laws are filled with exceptions to the rules. On average in Kentucky and Indiana, with the help of a Medicaid planning attorney, married couples will save 95% to 100% of their assets and obtain long term care benefits for the incapacitated spouse. For a single person, families can often save at least 50% of their aging parent’s assets and obtain long term care benefits. With advanced planning, a single person ...

What Happens If There Is No Will in Indiana?

People often put off creating a last will and testament either because they’re too busy or they don’t like contemplating end-of-life issues. But postponing a will is not a good idea. It can create confusion, expense, and delay for your loved ones after you’ve passed away. When someone dies without a will in Indiana, it is called “intestate succession.” It’s a complicated legal term, so the better way to think of it is by asking, “What happens if there is no will in Indiana?” If you die without a will in Indiana, your assets will pass to your closest relatives. These assets include only items that would have passed through a will under Indiana’s intestate laws – ty ...

What Legal Rights Does a Non-Custodial Parent Have?

While divorce is difficult and often incredibly emotional, its effects go far beyond the separation of two adults who no longer wish to be married. When minor children are involved, decisions about custody must be made. Decisions are made based on the best interests of the child. And unless a parent has serious problems that could endanger the child, the courts typically favor the involvement of both parents in raising their children. Most often, parents share custody in Indiana. The parent with whom the child spends more time is typically considered the custodial parent. The other parent is the non-custodial parent. The term “non-custodial” can be confusing. It might lead some no ...

Can a Trustee Remove a Beneficiary from a Trust?

In most cases, a trustee cannot remove a beneficiary from a trust. The trustee’s job is to administer the trust and act in a fiduciary capacity. However, there are at least two instances in which a trustee could remove a beneficiary: 1. The trustee is the creator (grantor) of their own revokable living trust. 2. The trust document explicitly and clearly grants this power to the trustee. If the grantor of a revokable living trust wants to make changes at any time to his or her own trust, they can. This is one of the reasons this type of trust is created: it gives the grantor a lot of flexibility in changing, expanding, or contracting the terms of the trust while the grantor is stil ...

How is Pet Custody Determined in the Divorce Process?

We Know the Treatment of Pets in the Divorce Process Is Important to You. A pet custody agreement drafted by skilled divorce attorney is essential. Most people consider pets to be part of the family, not property. The law sees them differently. Thankfully, our divorce attorneys know a way you can work around that fact. There are steps you can take to create a pet custody agreement during a divorce. This agreement will help determine how pet custody will be handled in your divorce. We love our pets, and for good reason. Companion animals have been known to lower stress, teach children compassion, and help ease symptoms of depression. When it comes to divorce, deciding who gets Flu ...

What Is the Cost of Probate?

If you or a loved one dies in Indiana or Kentucky without a will, then your estate will go through probate.  You may ask yourself, “what is the cost of probate?”  The answer to that depends on the particulars of your assets and liabilities and your unique situation.  However, probate usually costs more and takes longer than the disposition of someone’s possessions when they have an estate plan. You may think that only rich people need estate plans, but that’s not true.  Creating an estate plan is an orderly, planned, proactive way of deciding how your assets will be distributed after you pass away.  Sometimes when a person fails to create a will or estate ...

What Happens After Your First DUI?

All DUIs are serious, but courts often treat your first DUI differently than they do repeat DUI offenses.  Any DUI should be a wake-up call to a driver.  It’s time to ask yourself if you have a problem with alcohol, or if you simply made a poor decision to get behind the wheel after a dinner party or professional gathering where you had one too many beers or glasses of wine. If you’re wondering what happens after your first DUI, read on to find valuable information.  Knowing your responsibilities and rights after you’ve been charged with a DUI will help you make proactive decisions that are in your own best interest. Most importantly, you should be represented by a ...

How long do you have to sue after an accident?

How long do you have to sue after an accident? The amount of time you have to sue after an accident often depends on which kind of accident it is and what jurisdiction you’re in.  For example, if a car accident happens in Indiana, then the statute of limitations for filing an accident lawsuit in civil court is two years for both personal injury and property damage.  Similarly, the car accident statute of limitations in Kentucky is two years for personal injury and property damage.  However, if the accident occurred somewhere other than in a vehicle in Kentucky (such as at home or at work), then you have only one year to file a personal injury lawsuit. This example shows ...

Is a DWI a Felony or Misdemeanor in Indiana?

COURTS COME DOWN PRETTY HARD ON DWI CASES, BUT EXACTLY HOW HARD DEPENDS ON WHETHER IT IS A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY. Judges and juries are less and less forgiving of drunk and impaired drivers these days, and so is the public at large.  But whether the DWI was caused by one evening of bad choices versus a long-term pattern of drunk driving can make a big difference in sentencing.  Generally, if you’ve received one DWI arrest, this will fall under the misdemeanor category unless someone was severely injured or killed or a minor child was in the vehicle.  On the other hand, if you’re someone who has been convicted of more than one DWI offense in the past five years, you wi ...

What Happens at a Misdemeanor Initial Hearing?

If you’ve been charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, or a DUI without bodily harm, you are likely facing a type of charge called a misdemeanor. This category of crime is considered more serious than an infraction, but not as grave as a felony. Especially if this is your first run-in with the criminal legal system, you are likely scared, embarrassed, and uncertain as to what to expect — when you head to court and beyond. What happens at a misdemeanor initial hearing? What sort of punishment will I receive? How do I ensure the best possible outcome of my case? Your first priority should be to secure legal representation. The New Albany misdemeanor lawyers at Church, Langdo ...

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Can Children Choose Which Parent to Live With in Indiana?

Children in Indiana cannot definitively choose which parent to live with. However, a family court judge often considers the wishes of a child who is at least 14 years old.

While a child's preference is a significant factor, it is not the only element a court evaluates when determining custody arrangements.

Issues surrounding the question of “Can children choose whi[...]