Elder Law, estate planning

The Legal Potholes For Seniors Getting Married.

By Rick Law, Elder Care Attorney in Aurora, IL In the Disney classic 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 grumpily told, “They are twitterpated!” As a law practice serving seniors and those who love them, we have observed that not just adolescents – but rather 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. If you are reading this, it’s not likely that you are currently enslaved by such romantic enchantment.  So here is some cautionary information that we give to our senior clients regarding marriage and/or 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.” 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. Too many families needlessly lose everything they have.  Don’t let that be you.  If you need help paying the overwhelming cost of long term care, give our office a call at 800-310-3100.  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.  Appointments available in Chicago, Aurora, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, and Joliet.  Call 800-310-3100 for your free consultation now!