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We consulted with a lawyer that came to my dad's nursing home (he did not have dementia, but had a bad fall with injuries) and added me to the deed and changed the will IIRC. The lawyer was very thorough in making sure dad was fully aware of his decision, was mentally competent, etc. and that we understood everything. My mom was also on the deed. Mom was able to stay in her home until we put her in a care facility. Her home was sold to pay for her care as Medicaid is not paying anything towards that.
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Reply to JustAnon
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Is your Mom competent enough to place you or her deed? If you are a POA you can't make any changes like this. If she ever needs Medicaid, having two people on a deed gets tricky.

I too think you need to consult with a lawyer.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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You need to speak with a certified elder law attorney in your state who can explain the different options based on your unique circumstances. Laws are different depending on the state.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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It depends on your situation and that of the property. Estate planning, Medicaid and real estate law can be complicated. For legal advice you can rely on, consult an appropriate attorney.

Have you lived, or do you expect to live with her for at least 24 months and provide care that keeps her out “institutionalized“ care? If so, you may qualify for the Medicaid caregivers exemption.

There are any number of special situations that can make it better or worse to be on the deed for any percentage of a home. HOA rules, liability issues, special laws regarding property taxes, ….
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Reply to Frebrowser
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MG8522 Dec 23, 2025
That's a good point, about the caregiver exemption. But it requires that the parent signs the house over to the child entirely, not shared on a deed. And then the child must live in the house with the parent for at least two years and provide an intense level of care, with documentation. (We do know that a number of people who post on this forum provide that level.)
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No. If she leaves the house to you, you get a stepped-up basis for capital gains taxes. If you are added to the deed, your basis is your mother's original low basis.

Your mother may need to sell the house to pay for her care, so it should be fully available to her for that.

And if she needs to go onto Medicaid, giving a share of her house to you will be considered gifting and disqualify her for a penalty period.
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AlvaDeer Dec 23, 2025
All spot on and all EXCELLENT reasons NOT to do this.
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