We handle Medicaid and long-term care planning, nursing home issues, powers of attorney and advance directives, guardianship for incapacitated seniors, special-needs planning, and elder abuse. And because we also handle estate planning, guardianship, and probate, your family gets one team for the whole journey.
Book a free consultation: Contact us online or call (918) 585-8600. Our office is at 2727 E 21st St #600, Tulsa, OK 74114.
Elder law services we provide in Tulsa
Elder law sits at the crossroads of health, money, and family. These are the matters we handle:
- Medicaid and long-term care planning (Oklahoma’s SoonerCare)
- Protecting a home and savings from nursing home spend-down
- Powers of attorney and Oklahoma advance directives
- Guardianship for incapacitated seniors
- Special-needs planning and trusts
- Estate planning for seniors
- Elder abuse and financial exploitation
Medicaid and long-term care planning in Oklahoma (SoonerCare)
The cost of nursing home care in Oklahoma can run several thousand dollars a month, and few families can pay it for long out of pocket. SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, can cover long-term care, but only if you meet strict asset and income limits. Without planning, families often spend down nearly everything before qualifying. With the right plan, you can often protect far more, including resources for a healthy spouse who still needs to live. The earlier you plan, the more we can protect. Even in a crisis, after a sudden diagnosis or a hospital-to-nursing-home transition, there are still steps that help.
The five-year Medicaid lookback, and why early planning matters
Here is the rule that catches families by surprise. When you apply for long-term care SoonerCare, Oklahoma reviews the five years of financial transfers before your application. Gifts or transfers made in that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay, even if you now qualify. That is why giving the house to the kids at the last minute usually backfires. Planning ahead, before the five-year clock matters, is how families protect the most. We build a plan that works with the lookback, not against it.
Nursing home and long-term care issues
Choosing and paying for long-term care is one of the hardest things a family does. We help you understand what Medicaid will and will not cover, how to protect the family home, how Oklahoma’s Medicaid estate recovery works after death, and how to keep a healthy spouse financially secure. When a facility is not providing safe care, we help you respond.
Planning for incapacity: powers of attorney and advance directives
The simplest tools prevent the biggest crises. A durable financial power of attorney lets someone you trust manage money if you cannot. An Oklahoma advance directive for health care states your medical wishes and names a health care proxy. Put these in place while a senior still has capacity, and you usually avoid the cost and stress of a court guardianship entirely. Skip them, and the family may have no choice but to go to court.
Guardianship for incapacitated seniors
When an aging parent can no longer make safe decisions and never signed a power of attorney, a guardianship may be the only path. Our attorney Kobi D. Cook handles guardianships and is trusted by Tulsa courts to serve as guardian and guardian ad litem. If your family needs to step in for a senior who can no longer protect themselves, our Tulsa guardianship attorney team is ready.
Special-needs planning and estate planning for seniors
For a loved one with a disability, a special-needs trust provides for them without disqualifying them from the benefits they rely on. For every senior, a current estate plan keeps the family in control and out of probate. Good news for Oklahoma families: the state has no estate tax and no inheritance tax, so most planning is about control and care, not taxes. Our Tulsa estate planning attorney team builds these protections into the plan.
Elder abuse and financial exploitation
Seniors are targets, sometimes by strangers and sometimes by people close to them. If a parent is being financially exploited, pressured into changing documents, or neglected, you do not have to handle it alone. We can act to protect them and their assets, including through guardianship and litigation when necessary.
How we help, step by step
Step 1: Free consultation. We learn your family, the senior’s health, and the financial picture, with no pressure.
Step 2: Assess assets and benefits. We map what is countable, what is protected, and what benefits the senior may qualify for.
Step 3: Build the plan. We design the Medicaid, incapacity, and estate plan that protects the most and fits your family.
Step 4: Protect and file. We implement the documents and applications, and we are here as needs change.
Why Tulsa families choose Welsh & McGough for elder law
Inside knowledge of Oklahoma Medicaid. Founder Catherine Z. Welsh is a former Assistant General Counsel for the Oklahoma DHS, the agency that administers SoonerCare. That perspective is hard to match.
Everything under one roof. Elder law, estate planning, guardianship, and probate are handled by one team, including founder Jim C. McGough and attorney Kobi D. Cook.
Honest guidance. We tell you plainly what can be protected and what cannot, and we explain costs up front.
We plan early and we handle crises. Whether you are years ahead or facing a nursing home next week, there are steps that help. Browse all of our legal services.
Tulsa elder law FAQ
How do I qualify for long-term care Medicaid (SoonerCare) in Oklahoma?
You must meet Oklahoma’s asset and income limits for long-term care SoonerCare and have a medical need for that level of care. Many families assume they have to spend down everything first, but with planning, much can often be protected, especially for a healthy spouse. We map your eligibility at the consultation.
What is the five-year Medicaid lookback in Oklahoma?
When you apply for long-term care SoonerCare, Oklahoma examines the five years of financial transfers before your application. Gifts or transfers in that window can create a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay. Planning ahead of that window protects the most.
Can I protect my house from nursing home costs in Oklahoma?
Often, yes. A home may be exempt while a senior or spouse lives there, and there are planning tools to protect it, but Oklahoma’s Medicaid estate recovery can later seek repayment from the estate. The right strategy depends on your facts, and timing matters.
How can I protect my savings from a nursing home spend-down?
Through careful, legal Medicaid planning that uses Oklahoma’s rules, spousal protections, and the right timing. The earlier you plan, the more can be protected, but even crisis planning helps. We design the plan that fits your family.
How much does a nursing home cost in Oklahoma, and will Medicaid pay?
Nursing home care in Oklahoma commonly runs several thousand dollars a month. Long-term care SoonerCare can cover it if you qualify under the asset and income rules, which is exactly what Medicaid planning is for.
What happens to my spouse if I go into a nursing home?
Oklahoma’s Medicaid rules include protections so a healthy “community spouse” is not left destitute when the other spouse needs long-term care. Proper planning maximizes what the at-home spouse keeps.
What is the difference between a power of attorney and a guardianship?
A power of attorney is signed while a person still has capacity and avoids court. A guardianship is granted by a judge after a person is already incapacitated. Putting a power of attorney in place early usually avoids the need for guardianship.
When is guardianship necessary for a senior?
When an aging adult can no longer make safe decisions and never signed a power of attorney, a guardianship may be the only way for family to step in. Our attorney handles these and can serve as guardian when needed.
Does Oklahoma have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
No. Oklahoma has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax applies, and only to estates well above the high federal exemption, so most families owe none.
How much does elder law or Medicaid planning cost?
It depends on the plan and whether it is advance planning or a crisis. We quote a clear fee at the free consultation, and the cost of planning is almost always a fraction of the assets it protects.