Protecting the Community Spouse | Eligibility for Medicaid Pt. 2
Whenever a married individual applies for MassHealth (Medicaid), the Office of Medicaid will take a snapshot of the couple’s “countable” assets on the date the individual entered long term care. Of those assets, the non-applicant spouse (called the “Community Spouse”) is entitled to keep a portion. That portion is known as the community spouse resource […]
How to Write a Last Will | 10 Planning Mistakes Pt. 1
Effective estate planning can seem straightforward, until you take into consideration that people and life in general can be very unpredictable. Add to that the tremendous changes that can occur in a family in even so small an amount of time as a year, and the complexities begin to reveal themselves. Below are some specific […]
How Do I Start a Business in Massachusetts? | 10 Factors Pt. 1
Starting a business can be both invigorating and exhausting all at the same time. To work for yourself offers great freedom, and of course great responsibility. Naturally then, it is wise to stop and set a proper foundation appropriate for the unique needs of your enterprise. While this should by no means be treated as […]
Spend Down Assets | Eligibility for Medicaid Pt. 1
After you have calculated how much your countable assets exceed the Medicaid allowance it is time to review with counsel some of the available spend down options. Below is a summary of some options you should expect to discuss. Purchasing Non-countable Assets One of the most useful spend down options available for couples who rent, […]
Does a Personal Representative Need an Attorney? | 5 Personal Representative Responsibilities
Being appointed the personal representative in Massachusetts (PR, formerly executor or administrator) can be a deceptively empowering event. Because while the PR is granted with a great deal of authority, he also needs a great deal of guidance in carrying out his duties. Those planning their estates should thus carefully consider how they choose a […]
How to Avoid Probate | Probate Law Massachusetts
Avoiding probate is desirable, especially when trying to save money, minimize hassle, avoid delay and protect the family’s privacy. These concerns, however, must be balanced with the value of having an independent executor to divide assets among family members. A fuller explanation of these factors is described in the article “why avoid probate?” But once […]
Tim McNamara
Attorney Tim McNamara was born and raised on Cape Cod, and has been practicing law in Massachusetts for over a decade. Estate and elder law planning for families is one of Tim’s areas of focus, a specialty that builds upon his earlier clinical experience as a nurse’s aide. Tim likewise calls upon his entrepreneurial background […]