Guiding You Through the Final Affairs of Your Loved One
Probate and estate administration are essential processes that involve managing a person’s estate after their passing. This includes settling debts, paying final bills, and distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries. Navigating these legal procedures can feel overwhelming, especially if you have never experienced probate before. That’s where Keystone Elder Law, P.C., comes in. As seasoned Mechanicsburg probate and estate administration attorneys, we provide expert guidance at every step, offering peace of mind during your grieving process.
Understanding Probate in Pennsylvania
The initial step in probate and estate administration involves determining if the deceased individual left a last will and testament. If a will exists, it governs the distribution of assets and appointment of a personal representative to oversee the estate administration. In the absence of a will, Pennsylvania intestacy laws dictate these matters. (Intestacy refers to a situation where someone passes away without a valid will.)
To commence the estate administration process, probate is typically initiated by filing a petition with the county Register of Wills. Upon approval, the Register grants “letters” to appoint a personal representative, who assumes responsibility for administering the estate.
Roles of the Personal Representative in Estate Administration include:
- Asset Identification: Gathering all assets owned solely by the decedent at the time of their passing.
- Bill Settlement: Paying the decedent’s final bills, including expenses related to their last illness, funeral, burial, or cremation.
- Creditor Management: Identifying and paying any outstanding debts owed by the decedent using estate assets.
- Administration Expenses: Covering any necessary expenses associated with estate administration.
- Asset Distribution: Distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries specified in the decedent’s will or according to Pennsylvania intestacy law.
It’s important to note that a probate estate includes only assets owned solely by the decedent. Non-probate assets, such as those held in a living trust, jointly owned property with a spouse, or assets with designated beneficiaries like life insurance policies or retirement accounts, are not subject to the probate process.
Contact Keystone Elder Law, P.C., for Expert Guidance
Probate doesn’t have to be an arduous journey. However, it does require the expertise of professionals who understand the legal intricacies involved. If you recently lost a loved one and seek advice or assistance from a qualified Mechanicsburg probate and estate administration lawyer, we are here to help. Schedule an initial consultation with Keystone Elder Law, P.C., today, and let us provide the support you need during this challenging time.
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REGISTER HERE for LONG-TERM CARE PLANNINGPower of Attorney
A Power of Attorney can be used to give another person the right to sell a car, home, or other property in the place of the maker of the Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney might be used to allow another person to sign a contract for the maker of the Power of Attorney (the person who makes a power of attorney is called the “principal”). It can be used to give another person the authority to make health care decisions, do financial transactions, or sign legal documents that the principal cannot do for one reason or another. With few exceptions, Powers of Attorney can give others the right to do any legal acts that the makers of the Powers of Attorney could do them themselves. A General Power of Attorney gives the “power of attorney Agent” or simply “Agent” (the legal name of the person who is authorized to act for the principal) very broad powers to do almost every legal act that the principal can do. When Elder Law Attorneys draft general Powers of Attorney, they still list the types of things the Agent can do but these powers are very broad. People often do general Powers of Attorney to plan ahead for the day when they may not be able to take care of things themselves. By doing the General Power of Attorney, they designate someone who can do these things for them.
Normal Powers of Attorney terminate if and when the principal becomes incompetent. Yet many people do Powers of Attorney for the sole purpose of designating someone else to act for them if they cannot act for themselves. It is precisely when persons can no longer do for themselves that a Power of Attorney is most valuable. To remedy this inconsistency, the law created a Durable Power of Attorney that remains effective even if a person becomes incompetent. The only thing that distinguishes a Durable Power of Attorney from a regular Power of Attorney is special wording that states that the power survives the principal’s incapacity. Even a Durable Power of Attorney, however, may be terminated under certain circumstances if court proceedings are filed. Most Powers of Attorney done today are durable.
Yes. At the time the Power of Attorney is signed, the principal must be capable of understanding the document. Although a Power of Attorney is still valid if and when a person becomes incompetent, the principal must understand what he or she is signing at the moment of execution. That means a person can be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease or be otherwise incompetent sometimes but as long as they have a lucid moment and are competent at the moment they sign the Power of Attorney, it is valid even if they do not remember signing it at a later date. At the time it is signed, the principal must know what the Power of Attorney does, whom they are giving the Power of Attorney to, and what property may be affected by the Power of Attorney.
Any competent person eighteen years of age and older can serve as an agent. Certain financial institutions can also serve. There is no course of education that agent must complete or any test that Agent must pass. Because a Power of Attorney is such a potentially powerful document, agents should be chosen for reliability and trustworthiness. In the wrong hands, a Power of Attorney can be a license to steal. It can be a big responsibility to serve as an agent.
For Medicaid
Medicare is health insurance and covers medical services such as physician appointments, therapy, blood tests, x rays, medical procedures and hospitalization. Medicare will sometime pay for rehabilitation in a long-term care facility for a period of 20 to 100 days, but not longer. In long-term care, Medicaid covers the cost of ongoing support services for daily functioning, such as room and board in a nursing home.
Medicaid is a federal program that is overseen by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance and is administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid funds are not available to pay for assisted living or personal care.
For Medicaid to pay for care in a nursing home, an individual recipient must be determined to need a nursing home level of care by a physician and the local Office of Aging. An individual whose income is not greater than three times the poverty level may keep up to $8,000 of total resources, but may otherwise keep only $2,400. The cash value of life insurance counts as a resource, but one car and a residential home does not count as a resource.
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At Keystone Elder Law, we believe that the physical, social, legal, and financial considerations of our clients all intertwine. We utilize an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate each area, which allows for the creation of a plan that addresses the concerns of the individual as a whole as well as the family. To this end, our model of practice includes a Care Coordinator (usually a nurse or social worker), whose expertise complements our team of attorneys.
When the road of life is smooth, decisions about legal and financial matters are easy to push aside for “a rainy day.” Planning ahead, however, will allow for more options as you view the map of where you’ve been and where you want to go. Don’t let a crisis limit your choices or derail your plans.
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