Articles from Providence Law on estate planning, trusts, probate, elder law, Medicaid planning and special needs planning.https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/en-ushttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-is-the-medicaid-five-year-look-back-period-and-how-does-it-actually-work/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-is-the-medicaid-five-year-look-back-period-and-how-does-it-actually-work/Picture this: your father has lived on his own for years, but after a fall, his doctor says he now needs nursing home care. The cost can easily run several thousand dollars each month, and your family quickly begins asking whether Medicaid can help. Then someone mentions the “five-year look-back,” and suddenly you are wondering…Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:22:22 GMTMedicaid Planninghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-should-i-do-with-a-loved-ones-trust-after-they-pass-away/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-should-i-do-with-a-loved-ones-trust-after-they-pass-away/Losing someone you love is hard enough without also feeling responsible for sorting out their financial affairs. Yet if your loved one created a trust, that responsibility often falls to you, sometimes within days of the funeral. You may be named as successor trustee, handed a stack of documents, and expected to know what comes…Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:49:55 GMTEstate Planninghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/how-does-north-carolina-decide-who-makes-medical-decisions-for-me-if-i-cant/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/how-does-north-carolina-decide-who-makes-medical-decisions-for-me-if-i-cant/Imagine your spouse is in a car accident and arrives at the hospital unconscious. Doctors need to know whether to proceed with an emergency surgery, and they turn to you for the answer. Now imagine the roles are reversed. If you were the one unable to speak for yourself, would the right person be standing…Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:03:21 GMTBlogEstate Planninghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-parents-need-to-know-about-special-needs-trusts-in-north-carolina/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-parents-need-to-know-about-special-needs-trusts-in-north-carolina/If you are raising a child with a disability, you have probably already thought about what happens to their care once you are no longer able to provide it yourself. It is one of the hardest questions a parent can sit with. North Carolina law gives families a way to plan for this future, but…Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:05:46 GMTSpecial Needs Trusthttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/how-do-i-choose-someone-to-manage-my-estate-or-trust/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/how-do-i-choose-someone-to-manage-my-estate-or-trust/When most people think about estate planning, they focus on what they want to leave behind. Who gets the house, how savings should be divided, what happens to a family business. But one of the most consequential decisions in the entire process is often the one that gets the least attention: choosing the right person…Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:11:37 GMTEstate Planninghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-is-a-power-of-attorney-and-when-do-i-need-one/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-is-a-power-of-attorney-and-when-do-i-need-one/There are moments in life when the ability to act on someone else’s behalf becomes not just helpful, but absolutely necessary. A sudden illness, an unexpected accident, or the gradual decline that can accompany aging can all leave a person unable to manage their own affairs. Without the right legal documents in place, the people…Mon, 11 May 2026 15:06:30 GMTElder Lawhttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/can-i-give-money-to-my-children-and-still-qualify-for-medicaid/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/can-i-give-money-to-my-children-and-still-qualify-for-medicaid/Many parents and grandparents share the same instinct: they want to provide for their children and protect their family’s financial future. At the same time, the rising cost of nursing home care makes Medicaid a necessity for countless families across North Carolina. When those two goals collide, a common and understandable question emerges. Can you…Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:35:05 GMTBlogMedicaid Planninghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/how-long-does-probate-take-in-north-carolina/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/how-long-does-probate-take-in-north-carolina/Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences a family can go through. In the weeks and months that follow, many families find themselves navigating legal and financial processes they never expected, including probate. If you’ve been named executor of an estate or you’re wondering what happens to your loved one’s assets, understanding…Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:55:49 GMTProbatehttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/do-i-need-a-trust-if-i-already-have-a-will/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/do-i-need-a-trust-if-i-already-have-a-will/Many people feel a sense of relief after finally creating a will. You’ve taken an important step to protect your family and ensure your wishes are honored. But then you hear about trusts, and suddenly you’re wondering if you’ve done enough. It’s a question we hear often at Providence Law: “I already have a will,…Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:26:34 GMTBlogEstate Planninghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-happens-to-my-house-if-i-need-to-go-into-a-nursing-home-in-north-carolina/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/what-happens-to-my-house-if-i-need-to-go-into-a-nursing-home-in-north-carolina/When you or a loved one faces the possibility of long-term nursing home care, questions about protecting your home can keep you awake at night. For many families in the Charlotte region, the family home represents not just financial security but also decades of memories and a legacy they hope to pass to their children.…Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:07:38 GMTBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/why-you-should-not-fund-qualified-accounts-into-trust/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/why-you-should-not-fund-qualified-accounts-into-trust/Recently, a colleague asked me about re-titling qualified and non-qualified accounts into a revocable trust.  My reply after advising her that “my response is informal, general information…I do not know the specific details about your clients’ assets…you need to consult an attorney who can give you targeted advise before you move any assets…” was as…Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:03:41 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/review-your-beneficiary-designations-regularly-please/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/review-your-beneficiary-designations-regularly-please/Review Your Beneficiary Designations Regularly, Please!  (your will does not control who gets your IRA…) All too often during estate planning engagements, we discover problems with beneficiary designations made for clients’ retirement accounts or life insurance policies.  And, often clients think that their will makes their IRA pass, for example, to their current spouse, when…Fri, 15 Mar 2019 20:02:25 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/social-security-disability-basics/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/social-security-disability-basics/What to Expect from your Social Security Disability Claim Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is a long, complicated ordeal for most applicants. While we always advise that you would be best served by hiring an experienced Social Security Disability Attorney to guide you through the process, this article will provide some basic information about…Fri, 15 Feb 2019 21:01:07 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/do-you-have-a-financial-plan-to-go-with-your-estate-plan/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/do-you-have-a-financial-plan-to-go-with-your-estate-plan/Do you have a financial plan that incorporate the following key areas?  Estate Planning:  Provides guidance to help you get your financial house in order. Review your assets for proper ownership and beneficiaries. Consult and coordinate your plan with your attorney, CPA, and other advisors. Address the financial impact of lifestyle changes (death, divorce, disability,…Tue, 15 Jan 2019 20:59:28 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/why-you-should-update-your-estate-plan/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/why-you-should-update-your-estate-plan/I wonder if folks get tired of hearing me say this, so I’m including a link to an article that will do it for me.  You may need to copy and paste the link.  Enjoy!  Best, Anna http://www.forbes.com/sites/russalanprince/2014/07/03/why-you-should-update-your-estate-plan/Sat, 15 Dec 2018 20:57:44 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/whats-the-big-deal-with-powers-of-attorney-and-health-care-directives/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/whats-the-big-deal-with-powers-of-attorney-and-health-care-directives/What is a Power of Attorney?  A Power of Attorney (“POA”) is a tremendously useful legal document that allows you to delegate someone to have authority to act for you.  That person may be called your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact.”  A Power of Attorney may be described as general, limited (or special), springing, and/or immediately-effective, durable,…Thu, 15 Nov 2018 20:54:56 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/why-i-still-make-house-calls/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/why-i-still-make-house-calls/My colleagues gasp when I announce proudly that I enjoy making house calls.  But it’s true.  When I started out, it was a necessary way to building my business.  But at this point, I keep making house calls for other reasons. Clients feel more comfortable at home. Especially older folks and those with physical problems…Mon, 15 Oct 2018 19:53:04 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/financial-planning-what-you-need-to-know/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/financial-planning-what-you-need-to-know/Please Find Out 1)  What You Pay for Money Management and 2) Whether (or Not) That Person a Fiduciary My approach to estate planning doesn’t just involve drafting documents.  Don’t get me wrong…the documents are important.  But attention to the underlying assets can have an even greater effect on “who gets what–when, how, and how…Sat, 15 Sep 2018 19:51:17 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/guide-to-managing-someone-elses-money/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/guide-to-managing-someone-elses-money/If you have been named as an agent under a power of attorney or appointed trustee of a trust, you have duties and responsibilities that you must understand.  Frequently, I advise clients about their duties as an agent managing someone else’s money.  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides free booklets for financial caregivers that…Wed, 15 Aug 2018 19:49:10 GMTArticlesBloghttps://www.theprovidencelaw.com/do-you-really-need-a-living-trust/https://www.theprovidencelaw.com/do-you-really-need-a-living-trust/The answer might surprise you. Clients often come to us asking specifically for a living trust-based estate plan. This notion generally stems from the advice of a friend, advisor, or something that they have read about somewhere. There are a wide range of opinions about the pros and cons of planning using revocable living trusts.…Sun, 15 Jul 2018 07:11:42 GMTArticlesBlog