Law Office of Joseph Mitchell
Questions? 215-557-7111
Free Guide for Pennsylvania FAMILIES
Don't Let a Nursing Home Take Everything You've Built
Long-term care in Pennsylvania can cost more than $140,000 a year — and the families who lose the most are the ones who were told “there’s nothing you can do.” There is. This free guide shows you the 7 costly mistakes to avoid, in plain English.
What's Inside
The 7 Mistakes That Cost
Pennsylvania Families the Most
Each chapter explains one mistake, why it happens, and what to do instead — no legal jargon, no scare tactics, just the rules as they actually work in Pennsylvania.
Waiting for a crisis
How Medicaid’s five-year “look-back” works — and why every year of delay shrinks what you can protect.
Gifting the "IRS way"
Why annual “tax-free” gifts to kids and grandkids can trigger months of Medicaid penalties.
Assuming the house is safe
The estate recovery program that can claim your home after death — and how to plan around it.
Trusting the wrong documents
Why wills and revocable living trusts protect nothing from nursing home costs — and what actually does.
An outdated power of attorney
The one missing clause that can freeze your family’s options at the worst possible moment.
Spending down to poverty
The spousal protections most couples never hear about — often worth $100,000 or more.
Missing Pennsylvania's own traps
Filial support lawsuits against adult children, the 4.5% inheritance tax, and more PA-only rules.
Bonus: Family Action Checklist
Seven concrete first steps, plus the exact questions to bring to any attorney consultation.
$12,000+
Typical monthly cost of a Pennsylvania nursing home — and Medicare covers far less of it than most families expect.
5 years
How far back Pennsylvania reviews your gifts and transfers when you apply for long-term care Medicaid.
4.5%
Pennsylvania inheritance tax on what your children receive — a tax that thoughtful planning can address.
Who Wrote This Guide
Attorney Joe Mitchell
Harvard educated, street smart. Joe Mitchell helps Greater Philadelphia parents put guardianship, inheritance, and estate plans in writing — so decisions about their children stay in the family, not in a courtroom. From his office in Germantown, he guides families through wills, trusts for minors, and the Pennsylvania-specific rules that generic templates get wrong — in plain English, without the runaround.
- Harvard educated
- Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania
- Estate planning, guardianship & trusts for minor children
- Serving Greater Philadelphia — 515 W Chelten Ave, Suite 909
ONE SMALL STEP TODAY
The Best Time to Plan Was Five Years Ago.
The Second-Best Time Is Now.
Whether care is years away or already on the doorstep, the guide will show you what can still be protected — and what to do first.
Law Office of Joseph Mitchell
515 W Chelten Ave, Suite 909 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144 | 215-557-7111 | joemitchellattorney@gmail.com
Attorney Advertising. This website and the guide offered on it are for general educational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Reading these materials, submitting this form, or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Medicaid rules and dollar limits change regularly; verify current figures before acting. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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