Resources

McDonald Law Firm is pleased to offer the following links and resources regarding estate planning, special-needs planning, and Medicaid/long-term care planning in Maryland. Feel free to bookmark this page or add it to your favorites, and come back whenever you need to locate a resource regarding wills and trusts, long-term care, Medicaid planning, or special needs planning in Howard County County, Montgomery County and the surrounding Counties. For legal assistance in any of these areas, call McDonald Law Firm at 443-741-1088 to schedule a consultation.

Maryland Estate Planning Resources

Maryland State Bar Association – Over two-thirds of the lawyers in Maryland belong to the MSBA, which promotes the legal profession and services to the public statewide. Among the Bar’s public resources are a series of informational pamphlets and brochures, including one on Wills and Estates.

American Bar Association – The ABA provides an estate planning overview for the public, including definitions of key terms, estate planning FAQs, and a video on death and taxes. You may also be interested in 10 Things Estate Planning Can Do for You.

American Association for Retired People – Take this ten-question quiz to test your estate planning smarts, courtesy of the AARP. You may also be interested in the AARP general section on Estate Planning, with news and articles such as Choosing the Right Executor or Trustee.

Wall Street Journal – This esteemed financial publication has an interesting article on common estate-planning mistakes. Another important financial publication, Forbes, has an article on 7 Common Estate-Planning Blunders Not To Make.

Internal Revenue Service – Yes, the IRS does provide helpful information to the public, such as this page on estate taxes and filing an estate tax return. Another informative page covers 1031 Like Kind Exchanges, which you will want to know about if you have business or investment property to sell.

Maryland Medicaid/Long-Term Care Planning Resources

Maryland State Bar Association – MSBA resources for the public in the area of Medicaid/long-term care planning include pamphlets on Alternatives to Nursing Home Placement, Appointing a Guardian, and Nursing Home Admission Contracts in Maryland.

Maryland Department of Aging – Programs includes elder abuse prevention, long term care information and counseling, community-based wellness activities, elder rights protection and more. For more locally-based programs and services, check out the Baltimore County Department of Aging, Prince George’s County Older Adult Services, Senior Services from Montgomery County DHHS, Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities or the Howard County Office on Aging.

Medicare – A great service from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is Nursing Home Compare. This website allows you to search for nursing homes in your area or anywhere you like and compare up to three nursing homes at a time according to Medicare’s five-star rating system.

Medicaid – Government benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital services, home health, and long-term care, including nursing facilities. Learn how to apply for coverage here.

Orientation Program for Court-Appointed Guardians

The following video covers the roles, duties, and responsibilities of a guardian and what to expect if you are appointed as a guardian of the person or property. Prospective guardians must watch the entire video before appointment as guardian of a disabled person or minor.