Senior Solutions LLC
Attorneys at Law

As an estate planning attorney, the scariest thing I see families face is when someone never gets around to making a plan at all. Doing nothing feels safe. It doesn't cost anything, it doesn't require an uncomfortable conversation, and there's no deadline forcing your hand. But doing nothing doesn't mean nothing happens. It means the law decides for you, and the law does not know your family, your wishes, or what you actually wanted.

When someone applies for MassHealth long-term care benefits (also known as Medicaid), the state reviews the previous five years of that person's financial records, looking for transfers of money or property made for less than fair value. If it finds one, it can impose a penalty period, a stretch of time during which MassHealth will not pay for care, calculated based on how much was given away. What surprises people is how broadly this gets applied.

Getting organized is often the single thing that makes the biggest difference for whoever ends up helping you, whether that is a spouse, a child, a friend, or an attorney.

Many people believe that once they have a will, their estate plan is complete. A will is important, but it does not avoid probate, and it doesn't control certain assets. In most cases, avoiding probate is a good thing. However, the first step is to understand what you own and how it is titled. Estate planning attorney Kathy McNair discusses the importance of understanding what a will does and does not cover.

Do you want to protect your home from the high cost of nursing home care? In Massachusetts, what is the best way to protect your home. Boston, Massachusetts, elder law attorney Kathy McNair, breaks down the options.

A move to assisted living often happens after weeks or months of worry. A parent is no longer safe at home. A spouse needs more daily support. The family tours communities, compares costs, asks about care, and finally finds a place that feels right. Then comes the residency agreement. By that point, many families sign quickly. The room is available. The move-in date is close. Everyone wants the transition to go smoothly. The contract can feel like one more stack of paperwork

In nearly 28 years of practicing elder law, I have heard many confident statements from families that turned out to be wrong in ways that cost them dearly. Not because they were careless or uninformed, but because they did what most of us do. Myth #1: "My neighbor did it, so it should work for me too." This is where most misconceptions begin. Someone hears about a strategy that worked for a friend, neighbor, or relative and assumes the same approach will have the same result

Most estate planning assumes a certain kind of life: a spouse, children nearby, a sibling who could step in, or a network of people who would show up if something happened. But not everyone has that. And for the growing number of people aging without close family support, those who are single, widowed, childless, estranged from family, or simply without anyone nearby who could realistically take on the responsibilities involved, traditional planning falls short in ways that a

When families start thinking about planning for an aging parent, one of the most common questions we hear is some version of: "My mother has a healthcare proxy, so we're covered, right?" Sometimes yes. But not always. And the gap between those two answers is where families find themselves in crisis, scrambling for legal authority they assumed they already had. Understanding the difference between a healthcare proxy and guardianship, and knowing when one is not enough, is one

It is one of the most common situations we encounter in our practice: a parent passes away, and the family discovers there is no will. Sometimes they knew it was coming and hoped it wouldn't matter. Sometimes they had no idea. Either way, the absence of a will doesn't simplify things, it almost always makes them harder, more expensive, and occasionally devastating for the people left behind. Here is what actually happens in Massachusetts when someone dies without a will, and

Summer has a way of bringing things into focus. You arrive for a visit, sit down at the kitchen table, and notice something has shifted. Maybe your parent seems more tired than last year. Maybe the house feels a little less organized. Maybe it's nothing, or maybe it's the quiet beginning of something you've been putting off thinking about. Are you an adult child starting to wonder whether your parents have their legal affairs in order? You don't need to have a dramatic interv

In my practice, I have been hearing more and more from clients who have been on MassHealth for years, who are suddenly being asked to provide mountains of documentation at renewal time. What used to be a relatively routine check-in has become something that looks and feels like a brand new application. If you or a family member is currently receiving MassHealth benefits and has received a redetermination notice, please read this carefully. What Is a Redetermination? Redetermi

If you or a loved one wants to stay home and get the care you need as you age, the PACE program, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, has long been one of the best tools available. It provides comprehensive medical care, personal care, and social services, all coordinated through a local PACE center, while allowing participants to continue living in their own homes. For years, PACE was also more accessible than nursing home Medicaid in one important way: it did

Caring for an aging parent is one of the most loving things a person can do. Many adult children take on the role of caregiver, helping a parent stay in the comfort of their own home rather than move into a nursing facility. What few families realize is that this sacrifice can also bring an unexpected benefit. Under MassHealth rules, there is a little-known protection called the Caregiver Child Exception . When used correctly, it can help families keep their homes instead of

Tips for how to talk to your husband or wife about creating a Will and Estate Planning documents when they don't seem to care.

Important MassHealth update for married couples in Massachusetts. Community spouse assets may now be reviewed annually.

For many people, retirement marks the end of a long and meaningful career. But for others, it feels less like an ending and more like the beginning of something new. Life after retirement offers the rare opportunity to explore passions, build community, and live with intention. More than ever, seniors are redefining what this stage of life can look like. A New Definition of Retirement Retirement is no longer simply about slowing down. Today, many seniors are busier than ever,

Planning for your future isn't just for the rich, it is for everyone. Don't wait for a crisis. Plan ahead to make sure you have the documents you need and the people in place to support you and to consider options for long term care.

There have been recent changes to MassHealth (Medicaid) programs that impact how Massachusetts seniors can protect assets when needing more care at home or in a nursing home

The IRS announced that payments to Live In Caregivers won't be subject to federal income tax. Elder Law attorney Kathy McNair discusses live in care as a strong option to help seniors age in place, at home, rather than relying on nursing home care.