Category Archives: Estate Planning Q&A Series

Can my relative sign over their remaining rights and can I hold the property for a while before selling without creating Medicaid look-back or penalty issues? NC

Can my relative sign over their remaining rights and can I hold the property for a while before selling without creating Medicaid look-back or penalty issues? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a relative can sometimes give up (“renounce”) a property interest or transfer it, but either step can create Medicaid transfer-for-less-than-fair-market-value risk…

What happens if my chosen agent can’t serve anymore, and how do I name a backup? NC

What happens if my chosen agent can’t serve anymore, and how do I name a backup? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, what happens depends on which document named the agent (most often a Health Care Power of Attorney). Many documents allow a successor (backup) agent to step in automatically if the first…

Can a financial power of attorney cover real estate transactions and other major purchases or sales? NC

Can a financial power of attorney cover real estate transactions and other major purchases or sales? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a properly drafted financial (general) power of attorney can authorize an agent to handle major purchases and sales, including buying, selling, or financing real estate. For real estate transactions, however,…

Do I need to update my trust or other estate planning documents when I buy and finance a new vehicle? NC

Do I need to update my trust or other estate planning documents when I buy and finance a new vehicle? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, no. In North Carolina, buying a financed vehicle does not automatically require an update to a revocable living trust, will, or other estate planning documents. The practical issue is…

If I’m already on my relative’s bank accounts, does that affect Medicaid eligibility or create problems later? NC

If I’m already on my relative’s bank accounts, does that affect Medicaid eligibility or create problems later? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, being listed on a relative’s bank account can affect Medicaid planning because it can (1) make the funds look “available” to the Medicaid applicant depending on account structure and…

Will a power of attorney signed in the U.S. be accepted in another country for banking and estate-related matters? NC

Will a power of attorney signed in the U.S. be accepted in another country for banking and estate-related matters? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but it depends on the foreign country and the specific bank or institution. A North Carolina power of attorney (POA) may be usable abroad if the receiving institution accepts it…

How do my parents update their medical power of attorney and financial power of attorney documents if they already have a trust and a will? NC

How do my parents update their medical power of attorney and financial power of attorney documents if they already have a trust and a will? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, updating a medical power of attorney (health care power of attorney) or a financial power of attorney usually means signing a new…

Do I need a court to approve a first-party special needs trust for it to be valid? NC

Do I need a court to approve a first-party special needs trust for it to be valid? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, no. In North Carolina, a first-party special needs trust can be valid without a court order if it is properly created and signed by someone with legal authority and it meets the…

Can a home be transferred into a trust to help with Medicaid planning, and what are the risks? NC

Can a home be transferred into a trust to help with Medicaid planning, and what are the risks? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a home can be transferred into certain types of trusts as part of Medicaid planning, but the transfer can trigger a Medicaid “transfer penalty” if it occurs within…

If we already have financial and health‑care powers of attorney and other directives, do we still need anything besides a simple will? NC

If we already have financial and health‑care powers of attorney and other directives, do we still need anything besides a simple will? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, financial and health-care powers of attorney help during life, but they do not control what happens to property at death or who manages…