2023 Holiday Newsletter

A group of ten women dressed in Christmas colors at smiling at the camera

Here are some free resources for you to learn more about the following topics:

Estate Planning

  • ESTATE PLANNING BASICS. Learn about the five most common aspects of estate planning. Click HERE to read more.

  • ESTATE PLANNING BASICS. Learn how to determine your own end-of-life treatment. Click HERE to read more.

  • IS YOUR ESTATE PLAN BROKEN? Your estate plan may be broken. Learn when and why you should review your estate plan. Click HERE to read more.

Estate Settlement

  • PROBATE BASICS. What, where, when, who, and how. Click HERE to read more.

  • PROBATE BASICS. What assets need to be probated? Click HERE to read more.

  • PROBATE BASICS. What happens if someone dies without a will? Click HERE to read more.

  • ESTATE SETTLEMENT - GLOSSARY OF TERMS. Probate has a language all its own. If you are unfamiliar with the terms, the probate process can be confusing. Here are some helpful terms and definitions to help you stay on the right path! Click HERE to read more.

Medicaid Planning

  • FIVE WAYS TO PAY FOR LONG TERM CARE. Medicaid is often the best option to pay for long term care, but what can you do in the meantime? Click HERE to read more.

  • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GIFTING FOR MEDICAID. Are you afraid to give a gift over a certain amount in any one year because you will have to pay taxes? Are you confident that making the minimum annual gift will keep you Medicaid-compliant? Click HERE to read more.

  • IRREVOCABLE MEDICAID ASSET PRESERVATION TRUSTS. A summary, advantages, and disadvantages. Click HERE to read more.

  • RESOURCE ASSESSMENTS: THE UNKNOWN STEP TO SAVING MONEY. The Medicaid Resource Assessment is an important element of asset preservation when faced with long term care expenses. A portion of the rules are designed to protect the community spouse (spouse still living at home). Click HERE to read more.

Guardianships & Conservatorships

  • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GUARDIANSHIPS. Learn more about what Guardianships are, when they are appropriate, common disadvantages, financial costs, and the court process. Click HERE to read more.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PAGE WITH ALL OF OUR RESOURCES.

If you have been appointed to act on someone's behalf, we have generated these guides for you:

GUIDE TO ACTING AS A POWER-OF-ATTORNEY

So you’ve been named someone’s Power-of-Attorney… now what? There are different types of Powers-of-Attorneys and different powers that can be granted. Click HERE to view the guide.

GUIDE TO ACTING AS AN EXECUTOR (PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE)

When a loved one passes, often one of the last things you want to worry about is administering their estate. However, knowing what your role is and how to perform your duties correctly will make this task less daunting. Click HERE to view the guide.

GUIDE TO ACTING AS A TRUSTEE

A Trustee is charged with supervising assets under a trust, and have a legal obligation to administer it solely for the purposes identified in the original document. A Trustee’s duties can vary in complexity, but this guide will give you an idea of where to start! Click HERE to view the guide.

GUIDE TO ACTING AS A GUARDIAN OR CONSERVATOR

Guardians and Conservators have different roles and duties. It’s important to understand your responsibilities and what you are expected to do for the ward. Click HERE to view the guide.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PAGE WITH ALL OF OUR GUIDES.

In 2023, we welcomed a new member to our team. Meet Frankie!

Frankie Stivers

Receptionist

Frankie joined Bluegrass Elderlaw as the receptionist in May 2023. She currently handles scheduling and preparing new files for clients. Before joining Bluegrass Elderlaw, she worked for a law firm handling the Medicaid process for 13 years. Frankie enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and grandson. Frankie spent 2023 traveling to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Destin, Florida, with her family.

Our attorneys and other staff members had a wonderful year too!

Tracy and her husband, Stuart, sitting outside and smiling at the camera. Tracy has shoulder-length light brown hair and Stuart is wearing an orange shirt.

Tracy McIntosh

Paralegal

This past year Tracy and husband Stuart celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary by visiting Scotland, which was where they spent their honeymoon. She also celebrated the engagement of her daughter Chloe and enjoyed spending time with Chloe and Alix in Lexington and Charleston. Her favorite book this year was Traces: A Novel, a book by Patricia Hudson about Rebecca Boone and her two oldest daughters.

A pencil drawing by a child. It is a woman with short hair, glasses, with rosy cheeks and lipstick. There are clouds behind her.

Angela Rehorn

Office Manager

Angela has been enjoying quilting vacations this year and even got a fancy new sewing machine to enrich her hobby. She has also started volunteering with an after-school program a couple times each month. One of her students drew this fun portrait of her, maybe she will turn it into a quilt!

Annie is standing outside with her mom and husband and smiling at the camera. Annie and her husband are holding pumpkins. Annie has long brown hair and is wearing a gray sweatshirt. There are flowers and decorations around them.

Annie Caudill

Paralegal

This year Annie celebrated her first wedding anniversary, welcomed home a new puppy, and took trips to Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland, and Alberta, Canada.

Grace Jeter

Paralegal & Marketing Coordinator

In 2023, Grace and her husband purchased their first house! Grace was also appointed Chair of the Kentucky Statewide Independent Living Council. In her spare time, Grace enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, doing home improvement projects, and cuddling with her sweet kitties, Olivia and Rosemary.

Michaela Estes

Fiduciary Services Coordinator

Michaela spent a lot of time getting some good snuggles from her boys and working on her health and wellness. She had many outdoor adventures with her partner who has helped encourage and support her through her physical fitness journey. She ended the year by seeing the Eagles in Concert at Rupp Arena with her family.

Coop is standing beside a Christmas tree at the office. She is wearing a white sweater and Christmas jewelry. She is also wearing white sparkly reindeer antlers.

Carolyn “Coop” McCown

Medicaid Paralegal

This year has been an extremely challenging but a great blessing from God for me & my family! That includes my BGEL! In 2024 will continue that with faith.

a picture of a garden with many pink flowers next to an ocean

Katie E. Finnell

Attorney

Katie enjoyed lots of time with family in 2023 including a tour of Alcatraz and it’s beautiful gardens. She continued to attend weekly pilates and always tries not to giggle in class when her lack of coordination strikes. Additionally, Katie had the pleasure of teaching classes on being a dementia friendly community to several local groups.

Mary Ellis Patton

Attorney

2023 was a busy year for Mary and her family as they traveled to multiple states for soccer and volleyball matches. Over the summer, they were able to visit family in southern California and see the sights in Hollywood as well. She’s looking forward to some new adventures in 2024.

A picture of a woman on a cruise ship looking at the sunset

Amy E. Dougherty

Attorney

Amy cruised from Boston to Montreal this year with several ports of call in the Canadian Atlantics and the St. Lawrence River. She also welcomed six great nieces and nephews bringing the total to 23.

A group of ten women dressed in Christmas colors at smiling at the camera while doing silly poses