Built for households with $2M–$30M in assets.
Home / Aging Parent Needs Care
⏰ Act within 90 days

When a parent needs care, their estate plan — and yours — both need immediate attention.

Decisions made in the first weeks of a parent's care need often have permanent financial and legal consequences. Medicaid planning, POA authority, and family coordination must happen before capacity is lost.

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What changes at the $2M–$30M level

A parent without a current POA may require court-appointed guardianship — a lengthy and expensive process
Medicaid eligibility has a 5-year look-back period — gifting assets to qualify has strict rules
Assets inherited from a parent may significantly change your own estate tax exposure
Caregiving responsibilities may affect your own income, retirement savings, and estate plan
Sibling disagreements over care decisions are among the most common family disputes — a clear POA prevents them

Your action plan

Ordered by urgency. Items marked "Immediate" should be addressed within 60–90 days.

⚡ Immediate priority
1
Confirm your parent has current POA and healthcare directiveImmediateWithin 14 days

If they don't, and capacity is lost, court guardianship is the only alternative. This must happen while they can legally sign.

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2
Understand Medicaid planning options if long-term care is likelyImmediateWithin 30 days

Medicaid has a 5-year look-back on asset transfers. Planning must start well before it's needed.

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⏰ Within 90 days
3
Inventory your parent's assets and estate documentsWithin 90 daysWithin 60 days

Knowing what exists — and where — prevents assets from being lost or inaccessible during a crisis.

4
Update your own estate plan to account for a potential inheritanceWithin 90 daysWithin 90 days

An inheritance from a parent may push your estate into new tax territory. Model the impact now.

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📋 Within 6 months
5
Review your own incapacity planningWithin 6 months

Watching a parent navigate care without documents is a powerful reminder to complete your own.

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5-Question Assessment

How prepared are you for aging parent care?

Answer 5 questions and get a personalized readiness score with specific gaps identified.

1. Does your parent have a current Durable Power of Attorney?
2. Have you considered Medicaid planning if long-term care is likely?
3. Have you inventoried your parent's assets and located their estate documents?
+ 2 more questions
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Get professional help

⚖️
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An estate attorney can execute the legal documents and trust strategies this event requires.

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