http://gatesmanlaw.com William M. Gatesman - Attorney-at-Law Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:47:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Mother has a stroke and moves in with you to live in the in-law suite in your home.  Mother pays you each month to cover her share of the utilities and to pay for the separate phone line installed in her room,  which line is included on your own personal ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2010/01/17/is-it-ok-to-pay-my-way/ You've heard the old saw: "There is more than one way to skin a cat." Such folk wisdom can inspire estate planners to dream up creative solutions to thorny legal problems. Recently, the Gatesman Law Office had been assisting a family in revising the distribution pattern under their estate ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/11/11/more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat/ The "Secret Handshake" refers to that gesture known only by the select few who are allowed access to an exclusive club.  I use that as the title to this post because the State of Maryland has adopted policies that make it hard for people who do not have "inside information" ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/10/28/the-secret-handshake-paying-for-long-term-care-in-a-nursing-home/ For our younger readers, this time of year is heralded by the hustle-bustle of back to school activities.  It is the time for parents of young children to double check that the kids have shoes that fit for gym class, warm clothes for the winter months, and pens, pencils, and ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/09/23/seasonal-estate-plan-checkup/ Some lawyers belong to an association that provides them with form legal documents.  One such form is the "Loving Trust".  Within such document, there is an indication that the term "Loving Trust" is a certified trademark.  The trademark does not belong to the lawyer who "prepared" your trust.  Rather, it ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/07/01/beware-the-loving-trust/ In Maryland, one is ineligible to receive Medical Assistance, or Medicaid, for long term care in a nursing home if one gives property away, or transfers property for less than full value.  Since 2006, this period of ineligibility does not begin to run until the gift giver resides in a ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/06/26/medicaid-transfer-penalty-divisor/ I stumbled upon a blog written by Trevor Rosen that provides invaluable information for people seeking to do legal research in Maryland.   For example, his May 2, 2009, blog post gives guidance on how to obtain legislative history for Maryland statutes.  Lawyers use legislative history to ascertain the lawmakers' intentions ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/06/11/legal-research-in-maryland/ The Gatesman Law Office works with personal injury lawyers to assist their clients in protecting the assets they recover for their clients. Sometimes, it is prudent to utilize a special trust to protect any public benefits the injured party may be getting. If, for example, the client is ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/06/04/personal-injury-trusts/ A lawyer who is doing Medicaid planning for a client asks: "The Medicaid caseworker has requested to see my client funds account records.  Must I give her this information?  Is this a problem?" This inquiry reveals one of the many pitfalls of Medicaid asset preservation planning. Except in certain circumstances, lawyers who ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/04/26/unintended-consequences/ Traditional Medicaid Asset Preservation Planning enables the well spouse to protect some or all of the assets while allowing the spouse in the nursing home to obtain Medical Assistance to pay the cost of nursing home care.  Post-Medicaid eligibility planning techniques enable the well spouse, should she predecease the spouse ... http://gatesmanlaw.com/2009/03/15/have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too/