Articles by Atty Hooker

On February 8, 2006 the US Congress passed a law which radically restricts an elder’s ability to protect their assets in the event that he/she needs long term care (nursing home) placement.

There are generally two types of trusts used in estate planning: revocable or “living” trusts and irrevocable trusts. For this column I will discuss the simpler version, the revocable, or “living” trust.

I have written columns in the past discussing irrevocable trusts and living trusts. Irrevocable trusts are good devices for protecting assets in the event of nursing home placement because the asset is not titled in the name of the individual and cannot be accessed by the elder.

Very few of us enjoy contemplating disability and death. We know, however, that the former often happens and the latter always happens.