The dramatic increase in the senior population in the U.S. has caused a corresponding increase in issues that impact the elderly, including nursing home abuse. Fortunately, there are nursing homes that provide competent, caring, and compassionate care to patients; however, you must remain vigilant and on alert for signs of abuse or neglect if you have a loved one in a nursing home. To help ensure that you know what to look for, the Indianapolis elder law … [Read more...] about Elder Abuse — How to Spot the Signs
About Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Does My Mother’s Estate Qualify for an Alternative to Formal Probate?
If your mother recently died, you are likely feeling overwhelmed with the emotional and practical aftermath of her passing. If you were named as the Executor of her Last Will and Testament, or you are the most likely person to handle the administration of her estate in the absence of a Will, you will undoubtedly want to avoid formal probate if possible. The only way to know with certainty that your mother’s estate can avoid formal probate is to consult with an experienced probate attorney. The … [Read more...] about Does My Mother’s Estate Qualify for an Alternative to Formal Probate?
Do I Need a Living Will?
Like most people, you probably created a Last Will and Testament as the foundation of your estate plan. At some point, you may also want to add a Living Will to that plan to ensure that your wishes will be honored regarding end-of-life healthcare decisions. Toward that end, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft suggests when you need a Living Will. Advance Directive Basics An advance directive is a legal document that allow you to plan ahead and make your own … [Read more...] about Do I Need a Living Will?
When Will I Get My Inheritance?
Finding out that someone left you an inheritance is certainly welcome news, particularly if you have been struggling financially. As the adage goes, however, you should not count your chickens before they hatch because you may be waiting for a long time before you actually receive that inheritance. If the decedent’s estate is required to go through probate, it could take a year or longer before your inheritance can be released to you. Why does probate take so long? The Indianapolis probate … [Read more...] about When Will I Get My Inheritance?
What Happens If I Die Without a Will?
You have undoubtedly been told by well-meaning friends and family member how important it is to execute a Last Will and Testament. Unless you understand why that is so important, however, you may lack sufficient motivation to get started on your Will. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain what happens if you die without a Will in Indiana. Last Will and Testament Basics A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that allows the Testator (the person … [Read more...] about What Happens If I Die Without a Will?
Executor Duties – Estate Accounting
Are you serving as the Executor of the estate of a recently deceased loved one? If so, you may already know how complex and complicated the probate of an estate can be. At some point during the process, you may be asked to provide an estate accounting. If this is the first time you have served as an Executor, you may not know what an estate accounting entails. With that in mind, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain what is involved in an estate … [Read more...] about Executor Duties – Estate Accounting
5 Medicaid Myths You Need to Recognize
Many people make it through their entire working years without ever needing to rely on Medicaid to cover healthcare expenses, only to find that they must turn to Medicaid as a senior. If you are among them, you may mistakenly believe some of the myths and misconceptions about the program. To help clear those up, the Indianapolis Medicaid planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain five Medicaid myths you need to recognize. Medicare will cover my health care expenses so I do not need to … [Read more...] about 5 Medicaid Myths You Need to Recognize
Is It Expensive to Administer an Estate?
One of the most popular estate planning goals is probate avoidance. One of the most common reasons why people want to avoid probate is the cost involved in administering an estate. To better help you understand why avoiding probate is so desirable, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain how expensive it is to administer an estate. What Is Involved in Administering My Estate? When you die, you will leave behind a legal estate consisting of all assets owned … [Read more...] about Is It Expensive to Administer an Estate?
What Is the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program?
As of 2019, the average cost of a year in long-term care (LTC) nationwide was over $100,000. In Indiana, LTC costs have hovered right around the national average in recent years. Unless you can afford to cover that kind of an expense out of pocket, you will likely need to depend on Medicaid to help you if you need LTC in the future. One of your biggest fears, however, may be the commonly held belief that to qualify for Medicaid you will have to give up your home or other valuable assets. … [Read more...] about What Is the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program?
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Issues that impact the elderly are very much on the American conscious of late due in large part to the dramatic increase in the senior population. The Alzheimer’s crisis, for example, is something that touches almost everyone. Whether you are concerned about developing the disease yourself, or you have a loved one who you are worried about, you need to understand as much about Alzheimer’s disease as possible. To help get you started, the Indianapolis elder law attorneys at Frank & Kraft … [Read more...] about Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
