Cunningham Dalman | Legal News | Attorney Blog Posts

The law can seem like a daunting and complex tangle. The attorneys of Cunningham Dalman are here to help. If you require legal representation or would like to seek advice from a law expert, we hope you’ll talk with someone at our firm. We also encourage you to learn more about legal issues that matter to you. On this page you will find valuable information about many different aspects of the law. We encourage you to spend some time browsing this collection of posts written by Cunningham Dalman attorneys.

Medicaid Policy: Potential Change Will Impact Undocumented Loans

Jessica Arends May 14th, 2019

A Medicaid policy change that could impact many families is proposed to take effect on July 1, 2019. Here is the scenario. Mom and dad have three children. One child has fallen on hard times and needs financial assistance to get back on his feet. Mom and dad are on a fixed income and have… continue reading

Estate Planning is Almost as Easy as 1…2…3!

Jessica Arends May 7th, 2019

Understanding the estate planning process may help you or a loved one take the first step to get this important planning in place. It’s as easy as: Contact Us. Call or email us to setup a time for us to get together to discuss your personal/family situation and your estate planning goals. Tell Us About… continue reading

Is a Medicaid Annuity Right for You?

P. Haans Mulder April 30th, 2019

Years ago brokers, life insurance, and annuity sales people used to aggressively push Medicaid annuities claiming this product would protect your assets if you went to a nursing home. In almost all cases, this wasn’t true and the State of Michigan took action to shut down this sales practice. What is a Medicaid Annuity? A… continue reading

Business Owners: Don’t Forget This Important Item When Selling Your Company

P. Haans Mulder April 23rd, 2019

All sellers focus on the amount they are selling their business for and how they are going to get paid. That makes perfect sense. However, it is rare they spend time planning for how the sale proceeds will be taxed. This could result in a tax savings of approximately 15% and a sizeable amount of… continue reading

Do Not Resuscitate vs. Life Sustaining Treatment

Jessica Arends April 16th, 2019

Every estate plan should include a document naming someone else to handle medical decisions when you are no longer able to. The terminology most commonly associated with this document includes: a medical directive, advanced directive, living will, patient advocate, and health care power of attorney. No matter the name, this document contains important language about… continue reading

Have You Funded Your Trust?

Jessica Arends April 9th, 2019

One of the primary reasons people create a trust is to avoid probate. A revocable living trust is the most typical trust used to ensure that your wishes are carried out. But sometimes this well-intended plan falls short if the trust is never funded. I always tell clients that their estate plan is not done… continue reading

How to Decide On a Financial Decision Maker for Your Estate Plan

P. Haans Mulder April 2nd, 2019

This is often a difficult decision. Some people struggle because they’d like to name all of their children, but understand that may only complicate the process. Others have a child or person in mind who is very capable, but he or she lives far away from them. Other people don’t have any children or friends… continue reading

Rule Change: Protecting a Home and Medicaid Benefits

Jessica Arends March 26th, 2019

Many people who require in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care rely on Medicaid programs to help pay for their care when they do not have enough funds to pay for it on their own. Historically, the Medicaid applicant’s home (if not in a revocable living trust), has been a non-countable/exempt asset for Medicaid… continue reading

Some Thoughts on Sharing Your Estate Plan with Your Family

meganh, December 18th, 2018

It is a very personal decision to determine whether to share your estate plan with your family. Except for the most extreme of circumstances, you will never be required to share the plan while you are alive. So, when the question of whether to share the plan is asked of me as an estate planner,… continue reading

Some Helpful Estate Planning Tips That Your Attorney May Not Have Mentioned

meganh, October 16th, 2018

If you have worked with an estate planning attorney before, it goes without saying that your primary focus was on the documents themselves – a will, maybe a trust, powers of attorney, etc. And hopefully when you concluded the process and your estate planning documents were signed, you also received some instruction on the next… continue reading

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