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Maryland Elder Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Am I legally able to make a claim against my mother's estate for caregiver services

rendered solely by me that was necessary for 'at home hospice care' the last 6 months of her life with verified and supported documentation?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 11, 2021

Without proof of an agreement/contract for compensation as a caregiver, Maryland law treats all services such as these provided to a family member as having been natural gifts of familial love and caring, without any right of reimbursement for your labor or time. If you were required to expend... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law, Libel & Slander and Nursing Home Abuse for Maryland on
Q: I was involuntarily discharged skilled nursing. While I was getting emergency care

They are refusing to send paperwork to another so I can go to another

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 24, 2021

I'm sorry this happened to you. A Maryland attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a number of weeks. As a GENERAL matter nationwide, patient discharges are often one-sided decisions. The patient may have certain recourses such as appealing or working with a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: How many signatures are required for an agreement paper between husband and wife later inserted as part of a will?

In maryland

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 30, 2020

A lawyer would have to look at both documents. A will requires two witnesses, and agreement can be signed by just the parties to the agreement. The will would have to specifically reference the agreement if it was to be given effect in place of or as part of provisions in the will.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: How do prove that a wife did not sign or agree to a document that relinquished her rights to her husband’s estate.

In maryland

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Dec 30, 2020

It depends on the facts, but one might look to the provenance of the signature using a handwriting expert or the circumstances of the signing. I had one case where the signature was attacked by investigating the notary seal, which turned out to be forged. There are many sets of facts, and it is the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: I live in Maryland, my parents are moving into assisted living, how do I protect their assets?

My father's health is deteriorating more than my mother's and I'm afraid the he may be headed for a nursing home soon. His health situation just came about within the last year so we are within the dreaded 5yrs penalty. I am the power of attorney but all his assets are still in his... View More

Bennett James Wills
Bennett James Wills
answered on Dec 1, 2020

Consult with a local experienced estate planning attorney to map out the best course of action for your parents.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Asset Protection and Medicaid Benefits

My parents and I are planning to sell our houses to buy a bigger house to live together. What should we do to protect our asset but still legally having Medicaid benefits for my parents if they need to apply?

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Oct 24, 2020

You should schedule an appointment with an elder law attorney. There is more than one way to do this. There is no one-size-fits all solution. A personal consultation is needed.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law, Public Benefits and Social Security for Maryland on
Q: 64, disabled, and on SSI and Medicare/Medicaid. About to inherit about $50,000. How can I avoid losing benefits?

Dad's original will set up a Special Needs Trust with all funds just for me. He later amended the will so funds are immediately disbursed among each of the children. I think I'm in a bind and don't want to lose my only income source as well as my health insurance due to having... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Oct 7, 2020

You are legally allowed to direct a gift or inheritance into a special needs trust, without receiving it directly yourself. You can have such a trust created when the time comes to receive the inheritance, or if one already exists, you can direct the funds into the existing special needs trust. Not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: What type of attorney to handle elder financial abuse?

My sister appointed a family member as her POA when she was living in assisted living. My sister now lives with family and want to reclaim her independence. The POA never kept her in the loop on any financial matter, has her financial accounts set up so she can’t gain access easily and my sister... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Sep 26, 2020

Call a lawyer. Have the lawyer contact the State’s Attorney’s Office, and have them indict your sister or issue a warrant for your sister’s arrest and prosecution for elder abuse, embezzlement and theft.

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: My uncle is almost legally blind and my aunt has early onset Alzheimer’s but presents well, can their daughter get POA?
Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
answered on Sep 21, 2020

Unfortunately, that would not be a good idea and may create a whole host of problems down the line. You are better off petitioning the court for guardianship.

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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law and Nursing Home Abuse for Maryland on
Q: I have documentation that some nursing homes if not all do not refund to the residents, overpayments of their private

pay for room and board and nursing services when admitted to a hospital, 3 days or longer, or in an associated Rehabilitation medical facility which is paid by Medicare. In other words, Medicare and or Medicaid pay for the resident's room and board and other covered services by Medicare paid... View More

Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
answered on Sep 18, 2020

Sounds like both. You may need to report this to both agencies.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: I am POA, father has dementia, in asst living, sadly medicare and health insurance does not cover much.

I have lived in his home for past 13 yrs. My sister lives in his other home, which he purchased for her and has lived there 20 + yrs. When his money runs out will we have to sell the homes, can I put deed in my name?

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jul 15, 2020

Usually an attorney in fact under a POA cannot transfer assets to themselves. Nor can the agent gift property to other family members unless the authority is expressly given in the power of attorney and is consistent with the principal's pattern of giving and best interests.

In...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: My mother in law is in a facility and my husband's name is on the statement. Does that mean we are responsible to pay?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jul 2, 2020

Only if your husband personally signed the facility contract stating he was the one responsible for payment. if he signed as a power of attorney, then no. If he was listed merely as a contact person, no. Take the facility contract that placed her there to a lawyer to review.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Can a Personal Representative act with the same powers as a Power of Attorney while the will-holder is still alive?

My mother has named me as her PR in her will. She has been deemed unable to make monetary decisions. We must sell her home to pay for assisted living but can't without a POA. We'd like to avoid the costs and time of applying for Guardianship. Will being her PR allow us to handle her... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 18, 2020

NO. First of all, you are not her PR until a court appoints you to act as PR--which can only happen after your mother dies and you file the will to open her estate. A person named or nominated to act as PR in a will has no authority to do anything before the person dies. The PR only acts for the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: My grandad is in a nursing home in Florida. My whole life he has told me I am to inherit 40,000

My aunt the executor says there’s nothing left after his care of 10,000 per month. But would like to help with my education so they can receive a tax break?? I’m confused. He’s still alive but not well at all Should I take her at her word???

Ana Maria Del Valle-Aguilera
Ana Maria Del Valle-Aguilera
answered on Jun 12, 2020

There are several issues with your fact situation. First, you were verbally told you were to inherit a certain amount of money. Were you told if this was as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or maybe as the beneficiary of a bank account with payable on death designation (POD) in your favor?... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Since I owe a large sum on my house; when I die, can my adult children just 'give the keys' to the mortgage company ?

I hope my adult children would not have to pay off my house

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jul 30, 2019

Good question. Heirs do not have to personally pay off any debts of a deceased relative. The Personal Representative ("PR") is appointed to deal with the assets and debts of the person who died and must pay off debts from the deceased person's assets.

Three options...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Maryland resident,how difficult is it to change deed on home from jwros to tenants by entirety. Also, the same for ba
Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jun 19, 2019

Tenants by the entirety is a special type of ownership for husbands and wives. If a couple bought property before a marriage and later get married, they could in theory re-deed the property from themselves as joint tenants to themselves as husband and wife, tenants by the entirety.

A...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: My husband and I currently live in Maryland - and are planning to move to Alabama within the next few months -

will Alabama accept our Maryland prepared will/trust/healthcare documents?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 11, 2019

Yes. All wills and POAs are valid in any state you move to so long as they were valid under the law of the state where they were made. One caveat: some states have statutory provisions which govern the enforceability of a POA in given circumstances, such as Maryland, which if drafted with certain... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Elder Law and Social Security for Maryland on
Q: My husband is in an assisted living facility and received a writ of summons for a credit card debt, what's next?

He only has Social Security payments and a very small pension. The SS payments are eaten up by the cost of the Assisted Living facility. The pension is below $150. The credit card debt occurred when he suffered a series of strokes and seizures which has necessitated him living at the assisted... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on May 1, 2019

Do not agree to pay any of it. He is "judgment proof." He may want to file a general denial asking for proof he owed the debt. There may be defenses depending on how old the debt is.

Contact your loal legal aid/legal services organization.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Hi, i,m not sure what the future holds for me. My mother and i purchased a condo in 2002. My cousins name was on deed

until 2010 his name was taken off and replaced with mine. 2014 my mother has been in a nursing home. A lien has been placed. What can i do to avoid the state of Maryland and or nursing home taking my condo when my mother passes away?? It was suggested that i place bankruptcy in part of of mother. I... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Feb 15, 2019

You should probably get a consult with a bankruptcy lawyer. I exclude bankruptcy from my practice, but I believe real estate not exempted would be liquidated to pay debts in the bankruptcy. The correct answer was to place the deed in a special needs trust three years ago, but that isn’t helpful... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Defense and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: what rights do I have if insurance wants to stop paying me disablity. I have been disabled since 1999.

I have pulmonary sarcoidosis, degenrative disc disease, osteo & rhuematoid arthritis. I stay in chronic pain also due to having granulomas brought on from the sarcoidosis! chronic kidney disease, diabetes, asthma , PVC and other health issues/ they are making me see one of their doctors to... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 31, 2019

You need to look at the provisions of the disability insurance policy or plan under which benefits are being paid in order to ascertain what rights they and you have, and what medical standards apply to your situation. You may want to have your own doctors draft a report based on your current... View More

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