By Christopher W. Dumm, J.D., Founder & Principal Attorney, The Law Offices of Christopher W. Dumm Probate is the legal process that transfers a deceased person's property to their heirs and beneficiaries after death. If you're reading this, someone you…
Medicare covers nursing home care only under specific conditions, and most people are surprised to learn those conditions are quite limited. Original Medicare Part A pays for skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay of at least three days.…
A probate attorney free consultation gives you direct access to legal advice about estate administration without upfront costs. When a family member dies, the personal representative must make immediate decisions about the probate process. They must file the last will…
A probate hearing is a court proceeding where a probate court judge reviews and approves actions related to settling a deceased person's estate. The personal representative shows documents like the death certificate, asset list, and accounting records to get court…
For married couples in Missouri and Arkansas, federal and state laws prevent a healthy spouse from becoming impoverished while their partner receives nursing home care. This is accomplished through the Spousal Impoverishment Protection, which includes the Community Spouse Resource Allowance…
A court-supervised process may seem final once it concludes, but the closing of probate does not always mark the end of all possible legal and financial matters for an estate. After the Personal Representative files the final accounting, the probate…
Families often worry about how their life insurance policy will affect their Medicaid eligibility. The quick answer is, a life insurance policy can affect a Medicaid application, particularly if it has cash value. Unlike term life insurance, which has no…
When a loved one passes away, the probate process can be an overwhelming experience for the surviving family members. In both Missouri and Arkansas, a judge of probate is central to the administration of estates. A judge is a judicial…
Families facing the loss of a loved one often assume that their last will and testament will prevent the need for a probate court proceeding. However, this is a frequent misconception in estate planning. A will is a basic document…
In the difficult time following the passing of a loved one, family members are faced with managing both grief and immediate financial obligations. Among these, addressing funeral costs and securing funeral services is often the first concern. This becomes especially…