care home fees.

Phil_G_101

Just read through this very interesting conversation and wanted to put my sixpence in!
There's a lot of talk about the land registary and more- in my (slightly better educated than most) layman's opinion I think that a family protection trust (Google it!) can help avoid care home fees. This form of trust is not a care home fee avoidence tool but a 'Probate' avoidence tool but it serves the same purpose if the home and assets (property, cash and investments) are put into the trust at least six months before the owner of the trust goes into care.
I'm not a lawyer and everyone's business is of course different and for this trust to work (I think) you have to be based outside of Scotland.
Someone posted on this thread that good advice can be obtained from Age Concern- and I'm sure that it can- however, I would go the extra mile and ask a number of solicitors and lawyers about this type of trust. A Family Protection Trust is a VERY specialised tool and not all solicitors will be aware of it. I was at a presentation in Bristol last week and the solictitors there said that they had had a 100% success rate in protecting the clients assets from assessment by the local authority and on the few occasions that the LA had challenged the trust these solicitors had gone to court (included in the price) and won. The cost of the trust is only equal to about 4-5 weeks in care so REALLY good value.
Most solicitors will should free advice on this type of trust.
Hope this helps someone

walkerscott

My parents did the Deeds amending bit and then the thorough Will & Trust before any of them were diagnosed with alzheimers or any long term care issues. The will and Trust must be done thoroughly so that you don't end up creating potential problems in the future. Never assume anything and don't save at the wrong end.
Social Services have to prove that it was done intentionally to deprive them of accessing assets if anyone of you needed purely care home help.
NHS Fully Funded Continuing Nursing Care home placements are free and nothing to do with SS. I repeat these things must be done before any diagnoses is given.
If anyone is living with you, a son or daughter aged 60 + then the property will not be touched ...
Everyone is entitled to plan for the future and their children, it is a personal right, so don't let rumours about SS put you off planning and making arrangements for the future

Errata

Everyone is entitled to plan for the future and their children, it is a personal right

This is so true. Unfortunately vanishingly few people think about what care they might need and have to pay for in their old age because most people can't imagine ever needing it.