Originally sent to our newsletter subscribers in December 2026.
November was about the people doing the work. Paying a family caregiver properly, insuring against the cost of care, what to look for over the holiday, and what to do when the state says no.
In Case You Missed It: November Articles
Paying a Family Member to Care for Mom
Done properly it is a legitimate strategy. Done the usual way, every dollar is a penalized gift. The difference is paperwork and timing.
Long-Term Care Insurance in Georgia
Including the Georgia Partnership Program, which protects a dollar of assets for every dollar a qualifying policy pays out. Most policies sold are not Partnership policies.
The Thanksgiving Visit: What to Look For
A holiday visit is often the first honest look you get. What to notice, and how to raise it afterward without starting a fight.
Your Medicaid Application Was Denied. What Now?
Most denials we see are documentation problems, not eligibility problems. The deadline is the part that is genuinely unforgiving.
What to take from all of this
Every January our phones ring with families who noticed something over the holidays and did not know what to do about it. If that is you this year, you do not need to have it figured out before you call. That is rather the point.
Coming up in December
- The First Two Weeks After a Parent Dies in Georgia. A practical order of operations, including the one mistake that turns grief into a lawsuit between siblings.
- Petition for Year’s Support: The Georgia Probate Claim That Can Outrank Almost Everything Else. It can reach past creditors and protect a family home. The filing window runs from the date of death and it is not generous.
- December 31 Is Coming! Seven Things For Your Year End Estate Planning. Beneficiary designations, trust funding, and why the gift tax exclusion is not a Medicaid rule.
- What To Give Your Family This Year That They Will Actually Use. It is not wrapped. It takes an hour and it will save your family weeks.
- When a Parent Says I Don’t Want To Be a Burden. The most common thing aging parents say and the most misunderstood. What is usually underneath it, and what to ask instead of reassuring.
From all of us here, thank you for reading this year. We hope your house is full and your people are well.
Join us in December
Our last sessions of the year, in person at two locations and online on Thursdays. Both are free, both are ninety minutes, and registration is required because seating is limited.
In person
- Wednesday, December 9, 10:00 am, Executive Park near Emory. Estate Planning 101, Session 2: Probate, the Good, the Bad, and How to Avoid It
- Wednesday, December 9, 1:00 pm, Executive Park near Emory. Medicaid 101: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How Planning Changes the Outcome
- Wednesday, December 16, 10:00 am, Dunwoody. Medicaid 101
- Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 pm, Dunwoody. Estate Planning 101, Session 2: Probate
Online, Thursdays at 1:00 pm
- December 3. Don’t Go Broke: Medicaid Strategies for Long-Term Care Before You Lose It All
- December 10. The 3 Essential Documents Every Adult Over 18 Needs
- December 17. Becoming the CEO of Your Parent’s Life: The Right Mindset for a Family Caregiver
If a December session is the wrong month for your family, that is understandable. Watch for the new schedule in the new year.
If you want to talk
You do not have to figure out which of these applies to you on your own. If something here hit close to home, schedule a complimentary 15 minute Strategy Session with one of my non-attorney team members. They will listen, ask a few questions, and help you understand whether this is something we can help with.
Schedule your 15-minute Strategy Session
Or call us at 404-549-5001.
Warmly,
Shannon M. Pawley, J.D., LL.M.
The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm
Decatur, Georgia
elderlawgeorgia.com | 404-549-5001
