Protect What Matters

Elder Law Attorney in Goddard, KS

When a Parent Needs Care, the Clock Starts Running

If your mother just came home from the hospital needing full time care, or your father was diagnosed with dementia last week, you are not thinking about legal theory. You are thinking about how your family will pay for care that can run roughly $9,000 a month, and whether the home and savings your parents spent a lifetime building are about to disappear.

That fear is real, and it is common. What most families in Goddard do not know is that they have more options than they think, even when a crisis has already started. Advanced Legal Planning helps Kansas families face long term care the way it should be faced, with a plan instead of panic.

The Mistakes That Cost Goddard Families the Most

Most of the damage in an elder law situation happens before a family ever calls an attorney. The most common and most expensive mistakes we see include:

Giving away money or property to children in an attempt to qualify for Medicaid, which can trigger a penalty period and delay eligibility
Spending down savings on the nursing home bill first, before getting advice, when some of those assets could have been preserved
Assuming the family home is automatically safe, when an exempt home can still face a Medicaid estate recovery lien after death
Waiting to plan until a health crisis forces every decision at once

Each of these is avoidable. The problem is that families rarely learn the rules until they have already made the costly move.

Guidance Built on Real Credentials

Elder law sits at the intersection of Medicaid rules, tax law, and estate planning, and getting it wrong is expensive. Mark Galloway, owner of Advanced Legal Planning, LLC, holds dual LL.M. degrees, one in Elder Law from the University of Kansas and one in Tax from Boston University. That depth matters when your family is weighing how a transfer, a trust, or a spend down decision will play out under both Kansas Medicaid rules and federal tax law.

When you sit down with Advanced Legal Planning, you get honest guidance about what can and cannot be done in your situation, not a sales pitch.

The 3 Step Medicaid Planning Blueprint

Advanced Legal Planning uses a clear, three step approach so Goddard families always know where they stand.

Assess. We review your family's assets, income, and care situation, then explain in plain language what Kansas Medicaid will and will not count. Kansas is a medically needy state with no hard income cap, so income that looks disqualifying at first often is not the barrier families fear.

Protect. We build a plan using the tools that fit your circumstances, which may include a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT), spousal protections, or crisis strategies if care is already underway. Medicaid can look back up to five years on certain transfers, so timing and structure are everything.

Qualify. We guide you through the application and documentation so the plan holds up and your loved one gets the care they need without unnecessary loss.

You can read more about how this works on our main elder law and Medicaid planning page.

Three Ways Families Pay for Long Term Care

Every plan comes down to how care gets funded. There are three basic paths, and most families use some combination.

Long Term Care Insurance. If a policy is already in place, it can cover a meaningful share of costs. We help you understand what your policy actually pays before you rely on it.

Private Pay. Paying out of pocket gives the most flexibility and choice of facility, but at roughly $9,000 a month it can erode a lifetime of savings quickly without a protection strategy.

Medicaid. For most families, Kansas Medicaid becomes part of the plan. The goal is to qualify while preserving what the law allows you to keep.

What Goddard Families Say

"When Dad's diagnosis came, we thought we would lose the farm to pay for his care. Advanced Legal Planning showed us a path we did not know existed. They were honest, calm, and they treated our family like people, not a case number. We kept the home."
— a Goddard family

Plan Before the Next Emergency

Goddard families already trust Advanced Legal Planning for Medicaid planning and long term care planning. Elder law brings those pieces together into one plan for your family's future. Whether you are planning ahead or facing a crisis today, the earlier you start, the more the law lets you protect.

Ready to protect your home, savings, and family's future? Call Advanced Legal Planning at (316) 252-2233 or schedule a consultation online. Virtual meetings are available upon request.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does an elder law attorney actually do?

An elder law attorney helps families plan for the legal and financial side of aging, including long term care, Medicaid eligibility, powers of attorney, and protecting assets from being lost to care costs. Advanced Legal Planning focuses on Kansas families and Kansas rules.

Is it too late to plan if my parents are already in a nursing home?

No. Crisis planning exists for exactly this situation. Even after care has started, there are often steps that can preserve assets. Advanced Legal Planning handles crisis cases regularly. Start by learning about our asset protection planning options.

Will my parents lose their home to Medicaid?

Not necessarily. The home is often exempt for eligibility purposes, which means it does not count against qualification. It is important to understand that exempt does not mean protected. An exempt home can still face a Medicaid estate recovery lien after death, which is why a plan matters.

How far back does Medicaid look at our finances?

Kansas Medicaid can look back up to five years on certain asset transfers. Gifts or transfers made in that window may trigger a penalty period, which is why families should get advice before moving any money.

Areas We Serve

Advanced Legal Planning serves Goddard and communities across the region, including Wichita, Cheney, Andale, Maize, Haysville, and the surrounding Kansas cities.

Ready to protect your home, savings, and family's future? Call Advanced Legal Planning at (316) 252-2233 or schedule a consultation online. Virtual meetings available.