MY MOTHER WAS ON MEDICAID/TITLE 19 AND SHE RECENTLY DIED. WHAT DO I DO?

While the estate is generally only a small bank account in cases like this, there are plenty of things to do. There are three main issues.

First, if you were acting under a power of attorney, your power to write checks, pay bills and take care of financial affairs ended at death. You should no longer write checks from your mother's accounts. The bank can stop payment on the checks, resulting in extra work for you, inconvenience for everyone involved and bounced check fees.

Second, the funds in your mother's bank accounts are frozen because they are now part of your mothers' estate. Transfer of assets after death is regulated and you will need to do a summary probate proceeding to withdraw the money from the bank. This is not as difficult as it sounds, but you should be careful. By taking this money you will become responsible to your mother's creditors.

Finally, because your mother was on Medicaid/Title 19, the State believes that it has the right to be reimbursed from whatever money is in your mother's account. You can expect the State to contact you to request the money. Unless the money was spent on a limited list of approved expenses, you will be obligated to turn the money over to the State. The State will require documentation of any expenses that you paid. It can take some time and effort to satisfy their claim.

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