Disability Compensation

If you were injured while serving in the military, you may be eligible for what is known as VA Service-Connected Disability Compensation. If your service made you seriously ill, you may also be eligible for disability compensation. Tragically, many eligible veterans (and their surviving spouses, who may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) are…

Preparing for an Initial Estate Planning Consultation

New Clients – Estate Planning Preparing for the Consultation If you have made an appointment, you will receive an Estate Planning Worksheet prior to the initial consultation. This Estate Planning Worksheet is a short questionnaire designed to help focus your thoughts on the planning process. There is no need at this point to go on…

Powers of Attorney

What is a Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney is a legal document giving another person (the attorney-in-fact) the right to do certain things for the maker of the Power of Attorney. What those things are depends upon what the Power of Attorney document allows. A person giving a Power of Attorney may make…

Health Care Documents

Who can serve as my Agent? You may appoint almost any adult to be your Agent. You should select a person knowledgeable about your wishes, values, religious beliefs, in whom you have trust and confidence and who knows how you feel about health care. You may select a member of your family, such as your…

Trusts

What is a trust? A trust is a separate legal entity for holding and investing property. One or more persons (the “trustee”) holds property, usually real estate or investments, for the benefit of another or several other people (the “beneficiary”). The person who gives the property for the trust is known as the “donor” or…

Wills

What is an Estate Plan? An estate plan is really nothing more than a collection of privately drafted documents that deal with issues of incapacity and wealth transfer. Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxies are for use during the lifetime of the maker. A Last Will and Testament is legally dormant until the maker…

Estate Planning

Wills Trusts Health Care Documents Powers of Attorney Preparing for an Initial Estate Planning Consultation Did you know that if you don’t create an estate plan, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will simply make one for you? Of course, the government is not interested in minimizing taxes or protecting the interests of you and your loved…

Medicare

Medicare and Medicaid (Mass Health) Basics In Massachusetts, Medicaid is Called Mass Health Medicare There can be some confusion over the differences between Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is a federal health insurance program in which most people enroll when they turn 65 years old. There are no financial qualification rules. Medicare has two primary parts:…

Medicaid & Mass Health

Massachusetts Medicaid – Mass Health Eligibility (Massachusetts Medicaid Rules – Rules in other states may be different) When Medicare will no longer pay for the cost of a nursing home, patients and their families are often faced with difficult decisions. If it is not possible for the patient to return to their home, remaining in…

Elder Law & MassHealth (Medicaid)

Learn More About the Elder Law Services Offered by Noreen A. Murphy: Medicare and Medicaid (MassHealth) Basics Learn more about the differences between Medicare and Medicaid, MassHealth, how to pay for nursing home care, and submitting a MassHealth application. Also, check out valuable links to even more information online. Massachusetts Medicaid – Mass Health Eligibility…