Many persons are concerned about protecting their assets from the ever-increasing cost of medical and residential nursing care. There are options available for most persons to protect a portion of their assets as the likelihood of needing expensive medical and residential nursing care approaches. The options available include making gifts to reduce one's estate which is or may be subject to claims by medical or residential nursing service providers. There are, however, strict time limits which apply to the making of such gifts. Another option is separating a healthy spouse's assets from the assets of his or her sick or elderly spouse to prevent the healthy or surviving spouse from being left destitute due to the medical and residential nursing expenses incurred by the other spouse. In addition, certain individuals may be able to consider establishing irrevocable trusts to insulate the trust assets and income from claims by the providers of medical and residential nursing care. Great care must be exercised in attempting to protect one's assets from medical and residential nursing expenses by these methods due to the consequences of failing to do so properly. Each situation must be analyzed carefully to assure that the needs of the entire family will be met without creating additional concerns, responsibilities or liabilities for other family members. For more information on protecting your estate from medical and nursing expenses, contact a qualified attorney.
