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Howard Collens

Collens Estate Law

Howard Collens

Collens Estate Law

Howard Collens

Collens Estate Law

Howard H. Collens, as an attorney and counselor, listens to his clients, understands their goals and offers creative, effective solutions to meet their needs.

He advises clients in estate planning for estates of every size. Focusing on the unique aspects of each representation, Mr. Collens tailors trusts, wills and powers of attorney to meet the present and changing needs of his clients.

Mr. Collens is a trusted counselor for those seeking representation for estate administration. He helps families following the death of a loved one as they navigate the complexities of the probate process or trust administration. With litigation experience in the probate courts throughout metropolitan Detroit, Mr. Collens is a strong advocate for those involved in contested estates, trusts or other probate cases.

With understanding and compassion, Mr. Collens assists individuals and their families in planning for their long term care needs. He eases the process of applying for and obtaining Medicaid benefits to pay for such care.

He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the State Bar's Probate and Estate Planning Section and the Elder Law and Advocacy Section. He has obtained the Certificate of Completion from the Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Probate and Estate Planning Program. He enjoys speaking to groups on various estate planning, probate and technology topics.

He is active in the community where he volunteers and supports the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County and the Woodward Avenue Action Association.

Bar Admissions:
Michigan, 1995
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1995

Education:
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1994
J.D.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 1991
B.A.
Honors: With Honors
Major: English

Firm Description

Your legal matters demand results. Contact the skilled attorneys who care.
Howard H. Collens, a dedicated attorney and counselor, listens to clients, understands their goals, and provides creative estate administration, litigation, elder law, and estate planning solutions. For over thirty years, he has earned the esteem of his peers, helped thousands of clients in estate matters, and has been honored with the opportunity to give back to the community.

Hours

Day From To
Monday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

Cost

What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

26075 Woodward Avenue
Suite 200
Huntington Woods, MI 48070

On the web

View Firm Website


Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

READ MORE
Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

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Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.

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Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.

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Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

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Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

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Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.

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ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

READ MORE
Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

READ MORE
Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

READ MORE
Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

READ MORE
Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.

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Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

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Retirement Planning

We explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.

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Senior Living

Find out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.

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Social Security

Get a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.

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Special Needs Planning

Learn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.

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Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

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