Elder Law Knowledge That Actually Helps Michigan Families
Got a Question About Medicaid, Estate Planning, or Nursing Home Costs?
Call (248) 356-3500 – No Charge for Referrals
Jim Schuster – CELA (retired)
“The Log Cabin Lawyer”
What You’ll Find Here
Articles and resources written over 30 years of practicing Elder Law in Michigan plus real answers to real problems facing older adults and their families.
Topics covered:
- Protecting your home from Medicaid estate recovery
- Medicaid Planning
- Avoiding nursing home costs while getting the care you need
- Estate planning that works during life, not just after death
All written in plain English. No legal jargon. No scare tactics. Just honest information you can use.
What This Knowledge Will Do For You
You’ll stop worrying about the wrong things.
Most people fear nursing homes will “take everything.” That’s not quite true – but you need to know the actual rules to protect yourself.
You’ll understand your real options.
Many people in nursing homes could be receiving care at home through Michigan’s waiver programs. Most families never learn this exists until it’s too late.
You’ll make better decisions.
When you know what Medicaid actually allows, what estate planning really protects, and what your rights are – you stop being a target for bad advice.
Our rule: If you’re informed, you’re empowered.
Resources
- “End Medicaid Estate Recovery Now!”
- 20 Michigan Medicaid Myths
- About Us
- Aging Parents
- Alzheimer’s Disease Requires A Plan of Action
- Asset Allowances and Protections for the Michigan Medicaid “Community Spouse”
- Can I Be Paid for Helping My Parents? – BEM 405
- Caregivers’ Bill of Rights
- Does Medicaid Penalize Birthday Gifts? Can a parent help an adult child?
- Does Medicaid Take My House?
- Elder Law for Retirees and Elders
- Estate Plan Questions
- Estate planning? Your Estate Plan May be Incomplete
- Facing Long Term Care? Avoid the 7 Common Mistakes
- FAQ: Durable Power of Attorney
- FAQ: Healthcare Power of Attorney
- FAQ: Michigan Medicaid for the Single Nursing Home Applicant
- FAQ: Revocable Living Trust
- Five Reasons to Hire an Elder Law Attorney to Handle Your Nursing Home Medicaid Application
- Four Reasons for a Caregiver-Personal Service Contract
- Handy Income and Asset Worksheet
- Here are the 7 Steps to make your Long Term Care Plan
- How do I choose an Elder Law Attorney?
- How Much Does a Lawyer Charge to Handle a Nursing Home Medicaid Application?
- How to be a Patient Advocate for Medicare Benefits
- How to choose a nursing home
- Let’s Work Together to End Medicaid Estate Recovery
- Letter of Last Instruction Worksheet
- Long Term Care for a family member. What is it and what should I do?
- Media Matters Reports on Medicaid Estate Recovery
- Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts Analysis: Right for You? Maybe and Maybe Not.
- Medicaid For Married Couples
- Medicaid for Single Applicants
- Medicaid Planning in 2026
- Medicaid Will Take Mom’s House?
- Michigan Medicaid and Nursing Home Services
- Michigan Medicaid Estate Recovery
- Michigan Medicaid Guides
- Pet Care Emergency Form
- Pet Emergency Card
- Pet Information Sheet
- Pet Trust
- Powers of Attorney: the Good, the Bad and the Cure
- Probate Questionnaire
- Singles Planning
- Six Reasons to Hire an Elder Law Attorney for Your Nursing Home Medicaid Application
- Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act – H.B. 6698
- Ten Rules for a Successful Medicaid Application in Michigan
- Ten Things to Know about Nursing Homes
- The Crisis of the Nursing Home
- The Five Most Common Mistakes an Elder Law Attorney Sees
- The Medicaid Law
- Trust Questionnaire
- Understanding Long-Term Care: A Guide for Seniors
- Veteran Will Lose Home Because Wife Had Dementia and He Accepted Payment for In-Home Help From Medicaid
- What are the Michigan Medicaid Eligibility – Qualification Guidelines?
- What are the Michigan Medicaid Eligibility Guidelines?
- What is Asset Sheltering?
- Who is Jim Schuster, CELA?
News & Articles
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KFF Poll Finds Americans Have Serious Problems with Healthcare
The Kaiser Family Foundation came out with poll results recently about Americans problems with finding and affording healthcare. Reading it is a sobering experience. Here’s what they found: Just under half of U.S. adults say it is difficult to afford health care costs, and about three in ten say they or a family member in…
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Is that a good investment decision?
Here’s the problem: scammers are looking for retirees to fleece. They know that retirement life is expensive. Watching those savings accounts getting smaller sure doesn’t feel good! We’re looking to put our money where it will grow. AI is the latest hot thing. After a bit of reading we learn that this investment is in…
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“Estate Planning” The problem and the solution: Elder Law
Here’s the problem with too much of estate planning is about “Death and Taxes. Legacy. Millionaire’s problems. Yes an elder law can draft your Will or your Trust. But there is more. Elder law attorneys deal in the range of life issues from adult children to grandchildren of any age. The issues that a young…
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Forced to pay for Nursing Home Rehab – Get Your Money Back
Had to pay for a nursing home for rehab? Get your money back. Over the years I had quite a few cases of clients going to the hospital then to the nursing home for Medicare paid rehab, only to find out that Medicare would not pay the nursing home fees. Appeal was fruitless so clients…
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Seniors to Feel the Brunt Shortening the Time to Apply for Medicaid
The impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on Medicaid services for seniors has become clear. While most of the news coverage has focused on work requirements for people between the ages of 19 and 64 and on immigrants, seniors will be hit hard. Here are examples. Reduction in Retroactive Medicaid Eligibility Coverage…
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The Steps of Probate in Michigan
You must go to the probate court, whether online, in person or both, complete and file the initial paperwork. Court fees will be paid at that time. Once appointed the steps you will take to complete the probate process. A very quick general summary follows: Step 1: Upon acceptance of the paperwork the probate estate,…
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Medicaid Cuts: Mom must Go into a Nursing Home
There is much conversation about the effects of the enormous cuts to the Medicaid program by the Trump Big Beautiful Bill. In Michigan alone these cuts could amount to 4 Billion dollars. ($4,000,000,000) per year. What does this mean for Michigan seniors, our parents? To put it bluntly, many will no longer get support for…
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Seniors: A Tax Tip That May Save You Big!
Here’s a little tax tip that might save you big. First off most seniors do not itemize but use the “standard deductions” instead. For 2025 the amount is $17,000 for a single senior. Are you experiencing unusually high bills due to a medical condition this year? Maybe you should itemize and use the “medical expenses” …
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Probate in Michigan? Not Bad if You Know What To Do
Many people think that Probate in Michigan is long, difficult and in a word “impossible.” It is not really that bad, IF you know what to do. First let’s put down the basic facts about Michigan probate. Should you hire a lawyer? You don’t need a lawyer. You can do it yourself if you have…
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Retirees Home Seminar: “Estate Planning” Documents Inadequate. Here’s the Fix
Yes, “estate planning” is important. But elders need more. We have had number of educational programs over the years. There is one continuing lesson I shared. I offered to review any attendee’s “estate planning” documents from the Elder Law point of view. The problem simply is estate planning is about “Death and Taxes.” Elder law…
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Feb. 2025 Update on Medicaid Estate Recovery
We previously reported on a Bill in Congress introduced in the House of Representatives by Chicago area Representative Jan Schakowsky. Her Bill would have ended Medicaid Estate Recovery. With the Trump administration it will continue. Yes. You can lose your home if you receive Medicaid after age 55. A taxpayer over 55 who incurs a…
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How Bad “Medicaid Planning” Backfires. Choose “Crisis Medicaid Planning” Instead
I’ll keep it short. “Medicaid Planning” is sold all over the web. When done poorly it Harms the senior client. Here’s a brief description of a very complicated problem. Some 20 years ago “estate planners” found they could sell “Medicaid Planning” as a way to “protect your assets.” Well, they accomplished “asset protection” by…
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Medicaid, Married Senior in Nursing Home. Here’s how to save your money.
If your spouse is in the nursing home we know you are facing financial catastrophe. The average national cost is $9,733 a month, or $116,796 a year. In some states it is much higher. You probably have already been informed by a nursing home social worker or read about your state’s requirements and it is…