We are pleased to announce that Charles (Chad) W. Pollard IV has been elected as a managing partner at Clair Law
Beginning as a promising young attorney from Marquette University Law School, Attorney Pollard thrived at the firm based on his hardworking, capable, and honest representation of our firm.
Chad's practice shall continue to focus on real estate; zoning, planning, and land use law; civil litigation, including lake rights and property line disputes, commercial litigation, and corporate law.

September 19, 2017

Medicaid is at the center of the current health care debates in Washington. People fear that the demographics in this country will result in skyrocketing Medicaid program costs. Americans have not saved enough to pay for end-of-life health care – thus Medicaid will come under increasing strain. Many of our clients confer with us concerning Medicaid planning, which is sometimes described as divestment. First and foremost, before talking about Medicaid planning, a client needs to talk about how to “qualify” for Medicaid. Medicaid eligibility differs by state and also by marital status. Currently, you cannot have income higher than $2,205.00 to $2,898.00 per month per person, including your Social Security benefits. In addition, there are asset restrictions of $2,000.00, unless there is a spouse who is not receiving care – in which case that spouse can have up to $120,900.00, while their husband or wife qualifies for Medicaid. The primary residence does not count in the asset calculation, but there is a cap of home equity if the recipient of Medicaid is single.

June 23, 2017

Clients with disabilities who receive governmental benefits cannot have more than $2,000 in savings. If they do, they start to lose those much-needed benefits.

There is a new type of saving vehicle known as “ABLE Accounts” which permit people with disabilities and their families to save up to $14,000 a year without losing benefits. The accounts are somewhat similar to the 529 College Savings Plans. With ABLE accounts, money can be saved and can be used for anything that helps the life of the person with a disability.