Larry, you need to be very careful trying to get checks from your Mom that way.... it could be viewed as money laundering.
Your Mom can gift to you up to $14,000 each year.... but if it is a case where your Mom might need to go into a nursing home within the next 5 years and have her care paid by Medicaid, Medicaid would deduct that $14,000 from her care, and either you or someone else would need to pay that out of pocket.
Well, let me ask a stupid question. Why wouldn't the person to whom the check is made want to keep it for him or herself? Or are you wanting the check to be made payable to someone else, with the funds given to you to avoid the appearance of gifting for Medicaid purposes? If the latter, even if it is made payable to someone else, I think it would still be a gift.
I don't understand why the circuitous route of the funds is being considered.
Your Mom can gift to you up to $14,000 each year.... but if it is a case where your Mom might need to go into a nursing home within the next 5 years and have her care paid by Medicaid, Medicaid would deduct that $14,000 from her care, and either you or someone else would need to pay that out of pocket.
I don't understand why the circuitous route of the funds is being considered.