2025 Year End Newsletter
Happy New Year! Welcome to our year-end newsletter. We had an amazing 2025. Click each section to read more:
Bluegrass Elderlaw, PLLC Partners’ Update
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Amy Dougherty
I continued to enjoy my favorite hobby - Travel! My adventures took me to the Netherlands and Norway this year where I saw beautiful cathedrals and heard even more beautiful music.
I also had an opportunity to explore historic Jamestown and Williamsburg.
My extended family continued to grow as more great-nieces and great-nephews were added to our clan.
Professionally, I had the honor of representing my firm and my profession on several KET programs.
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Mary Patton
My 2025 word is determination. Aside from working with my clients and raising two teenagers, I did a lot (for me) of hiking. I explored caves by lantern light and climbed up rocking cliffs and canyons, and even through streams at Mammoth Cave (KY), Torrey Pines (CA), and Zion and Bryce Canyon (UT).
In 2026, I am looking forward to representing elder law attorneys as part of the Fayette County Bar Association and presenting at the 2026 Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention.
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Katie Finnell
My family's biggest change this year was my oldest graduating high school and starting college at Transylvania University. Over fall break, my husband, youngest, and I traveled to Ireland. Such a fabulous experience with lots of good food, good friends, and amazing scenery. Looking forward to going again in the future with Lexington's local Faite Irish store on their annual trip!
I recently helped plant dozens of trees around my neighborhood along with many other neighbors and friends.
In 2026 I am looking forward to a great year working with several nonprofits I serve including Ashland Terrace and Life Plan of Kentucky.
Meet the New Team Members
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McKenna Roby
Associate Attorney
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Andrea Ringlein
Associate Attorney
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Bailey Adams
Associate Attorney
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Tami Collins
Paralegal
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Christina Eastham
Paralegal
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Maria Juett
Fiduciary Services Assistant & Billing Coordinator
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Kate Davis
Receptionist
Changes in the Law
The following is not legal advice but is provided for your information only. If you want to discuss how the changes may affect your estate plan, pleas contact your attorney and make an appointment.
Estate Planning
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) made a permanent change to the tax exemption amount for lifetime gift, estate, and generation skipping transfer taxes. The exempted amount is $13,990,000 for 2025 and for 2025 is $15 million per person and will be adjusted annually for inflation. (Adjustments begin in 2027.)
The IRS has a great breakdown of the Big Beautiful Bill’s effects on taxes, credits, and deductions: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions
ABLE Accounts
OBBBA made permanent the temporary extension of increased limitations on contribution to ABLE accounts. For 2025, participants can deposit $19,000 and an additional $15,060 if they work. The act also made permanent the ability to roll 529 education accounts into an ABLE Account.
The ABLE Age Adjustment Act expands eligibility to millions of Americans by raising the age of eligibility. Beginning January 1, 2026, persons who acquired their disability before age 46 are eligible. (Previously, the age was 26.)
Learn More: Able National Resource Center - https://www.ablenrc.org/
Stable Kentucky: https://stablekentucky.com/
Long Term Care and Nursing Homes
OBBBA reduced Medicaid’s retroactive to payback to 2 months before application (previously 3). The bill also reduced the home equity limit for Medicaid participants to $1millon. However, Kentucky’s cap is already less than that at $713,000.
OBBBA also places a moratorium on nursing home minimum staffing rules, as promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, until September 30 2034.
Observation Status
After a decade of litigation, Medicare recipients who were admitted to the hospital and then changed to observation status, now have a right to a appeal. This is important for patients who must meet the three day admission requirement in order to be discharged to a rehab stay that is covered by Medicare. Any retroactive appeal must be made by January 2, 2026.
Read More: A New Right to Appeal “Observation Status” in Medicare by Alice Bers, J.D., Naela News April/May/June 2025. Available: https://www.naela.org/NewsJournalOnline/News_Articles/2025/AprMayJun2025/Appeal-Observation-Status-Medicare.aspx?subid=2959
What we did this year!
Mary and Katie eat dinner with the fish in Florida
Tracy attends her daughter's wedding in Singapore.
It's a team effort to take Amy's passport picture.
Annie made friends with a mama duck!
Annie's husband, Zach, rescues keys that fell down the elevator shaft.
Showing off the new work cardigans!
Tracy representing our firm at the Senior Center Gala
Katie encounters road traffic in Ireland.
Amy and Bailey matched!
Our Holiday Elves!
Katie meets her ideal man.
Mary's family hikes a sand cave outside Knab, UT
Maria manages all the paper
Staff appreciation day
Michaela's cats check out the local wildlife.
Michaela befriended a baby goat named Logan.
We had out picture taken for Tops.
Annie's Leonard is little spiffy this holiday season.
Annie's Pippa is a pretty princess
Mary and daughter hike the Narrows in Zion, Utah
Bailey and her aunt representing Bluegrass Elderlaw at the Jingle Bell Jog
Andrea and Bailey passed the bar exam!
We had out picture taken for Tops, again.
We won best elder law firm in the Best of Lexington!
Andrea with Justice Goodwine at her swearing in ceremony.
Attorney Andrea!
Mary and husband Jeremy representing the firm at A Night for the Museum!
We are a proud sponsor of the Lexington Children's Museum.
Michaela and Attorney McKenna's newest addition.
We love Annie!
Amy and her sister sample cheese in Amsterdam.
Office Manager Angela's art in a recent show.
Several office members celebrating Angela's artistic talents!
Holiday Staff Party
Our staff gathered for an afternoon of food, gifts, axe throwing, go-karting, and more.
