Plan Ahead to Protect Your Life's Work
The cost of nursing home care in Georgia can exceed $7,000 per month. Without proper planning, a lifetime of savings can be consumed in just a few years. C.R. Chisholm helps families in Watkinsville, Athens, and Oconee County develop strategies to preserve their assets while ensuring they qualify for the benefits they need.
Whether you're planning ahead for yourself or helping an aging parent, C.R. can guide you through the complex intersection of estate planning, Medicaid eligibility, and elder law.
Medicaid & Elder Law Services
- Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) — An irrevocable trust designed to protect your assets from being counted toward Medicaid's resource limits while preserving them for your heirs.
- Medicaid Planning — Strategies to help you or your loved one qualify for Medicaid benefits while protecting as much of the estate as legally possible.
- Nursing Home Planning — Preparing for the possibility of long-term care before a crisis occurs, giving you the most options and the greatest asset protection.
- Disability Planning — Healthcare powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, and advance directives that ensure your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated.
- Special Needs Planning — Trusts and arrangements that provide for a disabled family member without disqualifying them from government benefits.
- Healthcare Directives — Living wills and healthcare proxies that document your medical treatment preferences.
Why Medicaid Planning Matters
Georgia Medicaid has strict asset and income limits. Without planning, families often face an impossible choice: spend down virtually everything to qualify for benefits, or pay out of pocket until the money runs out.
With advance planning — ideally five or more years before care is needed — there are legal strategies that can protect a significant portion of your assets. The key is starting early, because Medicaid has a five-year lookback period for asset transfers.
Even if you or a loved one already needs care, there may still be options available. C.R. can evaluate your situation and recommend the best path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust?
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is an irrevocable trust that holds your assets so they are not counted when determining Medicaid eligibility. You transfer assets into the trust, and after the five-year lookback period, those assets are protected. You can still benefit from the trust in certain ways, and your heirs receive the assets after your passing.
When should I start planning for Medicaid?
The sooner the better. Because of Medicaid's five-year lookback period, planning ideally begins at least five years before you anticipate needing care. However, even if care is needed sooner, there may still be strategies available. Don't wait — schedule a consultation to understand your options.
Will I lose control of my assets in a trust?
With a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, you do give up direct control of the assets placed in the trust — that's what makes them protected. However, the trust is managed by a trustee you choose (often a family member), and it can be structured to allow you to continue living in your home and receiving income from trust assets.
Concerned About Long-Term Care Costs?
Schedule a free consultation to learn how you can protect your assets and plan for the future.
Book a Free Consultation or Call (706) 389-9104