ElderLaw Answers is a monthly e-newsletter of legal developments and other trends of vital interest to seniors and their advocates. This newsletter is brought to you by Dana Perry  and the other members of the Elder Law and Special Needs Practice Group of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.

How Your IRA Can Benefit Both Your Heirs and Charity

Do you want to use your IRA to help a charity, but also benefit your heirs? Instead of leaving your IRA directly to your children, you can leave it to a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) while still benefiting your children.

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Should an Annuity Be Part of Your Retirement Planning?

Annuities can be valuable retirement and longevity planning tools, but they are complex financial products that can be misused. 

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The Hardship Exception to the Medicaid Penalty Period: Rare But Possible

If you transfer assets within five years of applying for Medicaid, you will likely be subject to a period of ineligibility. There is an exception, however, if enforcing the penalty period would cause the applicant an "undue hardship."

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Robin Williams' Death Laid to Underdiagnosed Form of Dementia

Although depression was initially given as the cause of actor Robin Williams’ suicide in 2014, his widow says autopsy results lay the blame on Lewy body dementia, a fairly common but hard-to-diagnose form of dementia. 

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