Online resource center to help you explore these key issues, and others, regarding your estate.
Mr. Miller has many years of experience in designing and implementing a comprehensive variety of Trusts, Wills, and other estate planning documents, as well as settling estates in the most expedient and appropriate method. Further, he counsels and assists clients on becoming eligible for VA benefits and Medi-Cal.
Learn moreMr. Miller has been active in the area of VA Pension and Medi-Cal for well over a decade. He uses various specialized types of Trusts as well as non-trust strategies to gain eligibility for his clients and save the family money.
Learn moreMr. Miller has been settling estates (both simple and complex) for well over 40 years. The starting point is always to create a strategy to settle the estate in the most efficient manner possible with a minimum of taxes. Often times the strategy created allows the family to bypass Probate Court proceedings.
Learn moreA couple of weeks ago we talked about the basics of Medicare , such as what are the different parts (A-D) and requirements for qualifying and receiving benefits. The reality is most people don’t know much, if anything, about this government benefit, so don’t be ashamed if you’re one them! But it’s not too late … Read more
Planning for government benefits is more important than ever. We have a heavily aging population and we are facing severe budgeting problems in Washington. This will probably result in government benefits (Medi-Cal, for example) becoming more difficult to obtain due to stricter qualification guidelines. Want proof. The latest U.S. Census Bureau brief on data from … Read more
Many times people mean well, they know they need estate planning services, but they wait because it’s not the right time for them. I understand why many of my clients wait. Hey, we’re all very busy these days, plus confronting our own mortality is just not the most pleasant thing in the world. And then … Read more
An important question I get asked all the time is how do I find the best Assisted Living Facility (ALF)? That question is often followed by something like this, “I know my dad needs assisted living and I want to get him the best option possible, but I’m not sure we can pay for it.” … Read more
I know a thing or two about the VA aid & attendance improved pension benefit. After all, I’ve counseled over 450 veterans families and brought in millions of dollars in benefits to them. The problem is that whenever there are government benefits and entitlements, there are scams and dishonest people trying to rip the claimants … Read more
I received a recent inquiry from a past client. He had questions about his father’s situation.With some changes to the facts to hide the identity, here is my response. Dear Mr. Miller: We need to make some decisions about caring for our dad. He can no longer live on his own without help. He doesn’t … Read more
Many people believe that Medicare covers nursing home stays. In fact Medicare’s coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. Medicare covers up to 100 days of “skilled nursing care” per illness. But there are a number of requirements that must be met before the nursing home stay will be covered. If you can’t afford the … Read more
The graying of America is definitely upon us. With more and more seniors needing assistance, some are finding new ways to live out their golden years. In this week’s New York Times blog “The New Old Age,” writer Emily Liedel examines some alternatives to the nursing homes and assisted living centers of the past. For instance, in Emily’s … Read more
A client called me the other day asking what I know about annuities. She was invited by a friend to attend a free seminar with a free lunch by a “Trust Advisor.” Her friend, recently widowed, didn’t have a trust and didn’t know how best to invest her nest egg left by her late husband. … Read more
The short answer is yes, everyone needs to think about long-term care planning. The more complicated answer is: What type of care will you need? What will it cost? How will you pay for it? No one can say for sure that you will end up in a nursing home, but statistics show that for … Read more
About Living Trusts is hosted by the Law Offices of Merwyn J. Miller, as your online resource center to help you explore these key issues, and others, regarding your estate.
Dear Mr. Miller: My mother is 82 and still lives alone. Over the last year, she has become noticeably more forgetful. She repeats stories, sometimes f...
Dear Mr. Miller: My mother passed away recently, and I have been named the Successor Trustee of her trust. I expected to be sad after losing her, but ...
Dear Mr. Miller: About ten years ago, my husband and I paid an attorney to create a Living Trust. We signed all the documents and put them in a safe p...
