What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Policy of a New York State resident.
I loaned mother 20k+ to pay off credit cards around 8 years ago. She made installments but it was not paid off when she moved to a nursing home in NY State (Monroe County), covered by Medicaid. Because so much remained, we arranged that I should be beneficiary of her life insurance (administered by her former employer), use it to pay off burial expenses and then what remained would be put toward the debt.
She passed away in August. We committed thousands to her cremation and to the wake she wanted for family in Maryland where ashes were scattered. A small amount remains (less than half of what was still owed) but family has received a notice from the county in which her nrsing home was located, saying that they have first entitlement to estate funds, including a life insurance policy. (For whatever reason, perhaps info she gave to her nursing home, the county believes that the life insurance policy is part of her estate.)
My understanding is that since I, not the Estate, am the beneficiary, these funds cannot be reached by the county. Am I correct?
I loaned mother 20k+ to pay off credit cards around 8 years ago. She made installments but it was not paid off when she moved to a nursing home in NY State (Monroe County), covered by Medicaid. Because so much remained, we arranged that I should be beneficiary of her life insurance (administered by her former employer), use it to pay off burial expenses and then what remained would be put toward the debt.
She passed away in August. We committed thousands to her cremation and to the wake she wanted for family in Maryland where ashes were scattered. A small amount remains (less than half of what was still owed) but family has received a notice from the county in which her nrsing home was located, saying that they have first entitlement to estate funds, including a life insurance policy. (For whatever reason, perhaps info she gave to her nursing home, the county believes that the life insurance policy is part of her estate.)
My understanding is that since I, not the Estate, am the beneficiary, these funds cannot be reached by the county. Am I correct?