Families in St. George and Washington County, Utah face a serious planning risk: leaving money directly to a disabled child can immediately eliminate their Medicaid or SSI benefits. A properly drafted special needs trust solves this by holding assets outside the reach of federal benefit program calculations, letting families provide real financial support without triggering disqualification. The type of trust matters – third-party special needs trusts, funded by parents or grandparents, carry no Medicaid payback requirement at death, making them the preferred choice for proactive estate planning. Trust language, trustee selection, and coordination with life insurance and existing estate documents all affect whether the plan holds up. Terry Law Firm, PLLC., a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, helps families throughout Southern Utah build estate plans that protect their most vulnerable loved ones.
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Tech and Personal Injury: AI, Blockchain, and Digital Evidence
Technology is reshaping personal injury law in ways that would have seemed far-fetched not long ago. In 2025, cases are no longer just about eyewitness testimony and paper records. Artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital evidence now play a central role in proving—or disputing—claims. At Terry Law Firm, P.S., we’ve seen how these tools can help […]
The ‘Sandwich Generation’ Guide: Protecting Your Parents’ Assets Before a Nursing Home Wipes Them Out
Nursing home costs in Washington can exceed $120,000 per year, and without a legal plan, a lifetime of savings can disappear before Medicaid coverage kicks in. For families balancing their own households while caring for aging parents, the five-year Medicaid lookback window is the most important deadline most people have never heard of. This guide breaks down how Washington Medicaid rules work, which assets are exempt, how estate recovery can affect the family home, and what legal tools – like irrevocable trusts, spousal protection planning, and Medicaid-compliant annuities – actually do. Early planning consistently costs far less than spend-down, and the strategies available narrow sharply once a parent is already in care.
Healthcare Directives and Power of Attorney – The Two Documents Every Utah Adult Needs Before a Medical Emergency Takes the Choice Away
Most Utah adults don’t realize that without a healthcare directive and a durable power of attorney for healthcare, a medical emergency can strip away every choice they thought they had. These two documents work together: one records your specific treatment wishes so doctors and hospitals know what you want, and the other designates a trusted person to make real-time decisions when situations evolve in ways no written form can fully anticipate. Utah law has specific signing and witness requirements that make professional preparation essential – a generic form downloaded online may be rejected by a hospital at the worst possible moment. Families who wait until a crisis find it’s too late to create these documents, and the legal default process that follows can be costly, slow, and emotionally devastating. Getting both documents prepared now, reviewed regularly, and distributed to your physicians and healthcare agent is one of the most protective steps any adult can take.
Why e-Scooter Injuries Are a Growing Concern for Courts in 2025
A few years ago, electric scooters were seen as a novelty—fun for tourists or a quick way to zip through downtown traffic. Fast forward to 2025, and e-scooters are everywhere in Washington cities, from Tacoma to Seattle. They’re convenient, affordable, and eco-friendly. But with their popularity has come a new wave of accidents, leaving courts […]
Landmark Injury Cases of 2025: Talc, CBD, PFAS, and the New Damage Caps
Personal injury law never stands still. Each year, new cases redefine what’s possible for victims seeking justice. In 2025, several landmark lawsuits have captured national attention and reshaped the landscape for people in Washington and beyond. From talc powder verdicts to CBD liability, from PFAS contamination to fresh limits on damage awards, these cases highlight […]
