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Thad Murphy - Pearson Bollman Law (DBA) Pioneer Law Office

Pearson Bollman Law

Thad Murphy - Pearson Bollman Law (DBA) Pioneer Law Office

Pearson Bollman Law

Thad Murphy - Pearson Bollman Law (DBA) Pioneer Law Office

Pearson Bollman Law

Thad Murphy Pearson Bollman Law (DBA Pioneer Law Office)

A northeast Iowa native, Thad grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of West Union, Iowa. After graduating from the University of Iowa College of law he practiced for three years in Davenport, Iowa and has practiced since 2003 in Dubuque, Iowa. He has also maintained an office in Davenport since 2007. Thad focuses his practice on estate planning, elder law, Social Security disability and veterans disability. When not spending time with his wife and two daughters, Thad enjoys speaking with other attorneys and professional groups. In the past Thad has given his time as a lecturer teaching continuing education to other Iowa attorneys.

 

Education

Thad received a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College in 1996 with a degree in History. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law graduating with distinction in 2000.

 

Professional Affiliations

Thad is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR); the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA); ElderCounsel; the Iowa Bar Association; the Dubuque County Bar Association; the American Association for Justice (AAJ); and a VA Accredited Attorney. Thad is admitted to the Iowa Bar, the Illinois Bar, the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa Federal Court, the Central District of Illinois Federal Court, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Firm Description

We provide comprehensive Estate Planning, Probate/Trust Administration and Elder Law for residents of Iowa. Specifically, we practice in the following areas: Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, VA Pension Planning, Asset Protection Planning, Guardianships, Wills and Trusts, Probate and Estate Administration.

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What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

309 7th Avenue
Suite 200
Marion, IA 52302

1415 28th Street
Suite 160
West Des Moines, IA 50266

260 33rd Avenue SW
Suite H
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

1635 Associates Drive
Suite 102
Dubuque, IA 52002

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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.

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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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