Elder Law, estate planning
Legal Potholes For Seniors Getting Married
By Rick Law, Elder Care Attorney And Senior Advocate In West Suburban Chicago, IL In the classic Disney movie Bambi, when spring arrives, the adolescent Bambi notices that all of his male friends are becoming enchanted by young females of the same species. When Bambi asks the wise old owl what is wrong with them, he is gruffly told, “They are twitterpated!” In our law firm, we serve seniors and those who love them, and we have observed that adults of all ages can become “twitterpated.” When seniors come to see us for premarital legal counseling, they are rarely interested in our left-brained, analytical advice regarding senior dating, partnership and marriage. So, here is some cautionary information that we give to our senior clients regarding marriage and remarriage. It is important to understand that, as we age, it becomes highly likely that the health condition of the two partners will diverge. Young married couples moving through their twenties and onward towards their sixties can usually count on relatively good health. But as the famous actor Jimmy Stewart once said, “After 70, it’s just patch, patch, patch.” Chicagoland seniors who are getting married need to understand that when they say, “I do,” they also are giving an implied and legally enforceable promise that says, “I will be obligated for your medical expenses.” It is very important to understand that neither medical providers nor the State of Illinois are barred by prenuptial agreements from proceeding to collect for unpaid medical bills and/or reimbursement for Medicaid expenditures. Are you and your spouse (or spouse-to-be) protected from losing everything you have due to the costs of illness and long-term care? If you need help building a fortress around your estate to protect it from creditors, predators, and the cost of chronic disease, give our office a call at 800-310-3100 or 620-585-5200. Your first consultation is absolutely free. We’ll let you know what steps you need to take, right now, to protect yourself and your family. Call now, because when you’re out of money, you’re out of options! Sincerely, Rick L. Law, Attorney, Estate Planner for Retirees. Rick was named the #1 Illinois elder law estate planning attorney by Leading Lawyer Magazine. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, AARP Magazine, TheStreet.com, and numerous newspapers and articles. Rick is the lead attorney for Law Elder Law, LLP, focusing in Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Nursing Home Solutions. His goal is to give retirees an informed edge when it comes to dealing with an uncertain future. Get flexible retirement strategies that work during good times and bad, plus information on how you can save your home and assets from being used to pay for long term care. Call 800-310-3100 for your free consultation now!