Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 14, 2026 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 adopting a nuclear freeze resolution and encouraging other states to follow its example. Once again … Massachusetts has come forward to help propel a high-stakes national movement.” “The risk of nuclear conflict transcends politics,” said co-sponsor Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “While there are different views on the best path forward, we can all agree that reducing the risk of nuclear war and promoting global stability is a priority in the Legislature … These efforts strengthen both our national security and our collective future. Massachusetts has a long tradition of being a leader on important national conversations, and I am so proud that the Senate has been involved in this one.” “It is extremely important that the Massachusetts Senate has added its voice to the national call for a fundamental change in U.S. nuclear policy.” said Dr. Ira Helfand, co-founder of Back from the Brink, whose website says it is “bringing communities together to prevent the growing threat that nuclear weapons pose to our health, environment and all we hold dear.” “If we don’t change course, we are sleepwalking towards a nuclear disaster. The United States must actively pursue the security of a world free of nuclear weapons, not as some distant goal, but as an urgent national security priority,” continued Halfand. “The current moment is particularly dangerous. In the last 15 months, five of the nine nuclear armed states have been actively engaged in warfare with Russia, with the United States threatening their use. This is not a theoretical threat, but a real and present danger.” $5.9 MILLION TO HELP PEOPLE FIND JOBS – Gov. Maura Healey announced the awarding of $5.9 million in workforce development grant funding for 12 initiatives across Massachusetts, representing partnerships with employers, - LEGAL NOTICE - CITY OF EVERETT 84 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 Jacob St. Louis, Tree Warden jacob.stlouis@ci.everett.ma.us TREE REMOVAL HEARING In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 87, Section 3, notice is herewith given that a public hearing will be held at Thursday, August 20th at 6:00 pm At Everett City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 3rd Floor, Office of the Tree Warden To determine if the following public shade trees shall be removed or remain per the Tree Warden of the City of Everett. The trees are located at or near the addresses identified below: Location 19 Carlson St., Everett, MA DBH Common Name 22 Freeman Maple OBJECTIONS TO THE REMOVAL OF ANY TREE(S) MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING BY THE TREE WARDEN AT THE ABOVE LISTED ADDRESS PRIOR TO OR AT THE TREE HEARING. LETTERS CAN BE MAILED OR EMAILED TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. Jacob St. Louis, Tree Warden, City of Everett August 07, 14, 2026 training providers and regional collaborators to train, upskill and provide job placement for 951 workers for in-demand occupations in health care, logistics, education, information technology and more. “Across Massachusetts, employers are looking for skilled workers and residents are looking for opportunities to build successful careers,” said Healey. “These grants help us do both by connecting people with the training they need to fill in-demand jobs and helping businesses grow with the workforce they need.” “Workforce Success Grants offer an effective and proven tool for training providers to prepare skilled talent and for employers to access a skilled talent pool,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce DevelopBEACON | SEE PAGE 19 Primary residence of a married couple T he general rule is that the primary residence, if located in Massachusetts, and if a spouse is living in the home, will be considered a non-countable asset for Medicaid eligibility purposes with respect to the spouse that is applying for MassHealth, whether in a long-term care facility or whether dealing with a community MassHealth application, such as the Frail Elder Waiver Program. Furthermore, Massachusetts would not be able to place a lien on the home while the community spouse (one not applying for MassHealth) is living there. Also, there is no limit on the value of the equity in the home so long as the community spouse is still living in the home. If, on the date of admission into a nursing home, the principal residence is held jointly (e.g. husband and wife, as tenants by the entirety), this form of ownership should not continue. If the healthy spouse were to suddenly die prior to the institutionalized spouse, the principal residence would then vest in the institutionalized spouse and be subject to a subsequent MassHealth lien for nursing home benefits paid. This is known as estate recovery. MassHealth can seek reimbursement from the probate estate of the nursing home spouse. When a decedent’s estate needs to be probated, the Division of Medical Assistance must be notified of the probate proceedings by the law firm providing the probate services via certified mail, return receipt requested. The Estate Recovery Unit would then be able to file a claim for reimbursement for MassHealth benefits paid on behalf of the decedent. You can transfer the home from the institutionalized spouse to the healthy spouse any time as there are no disqualifying transfers as between spouses. There is no five-year look-back period applicable when spouses are involved in the transfer. Once in the healthy spouse’s name, and once MassHealth is approved, the healthy spouse can transfer the home to an irrevocable trust if that makes sense in the overall estate/ Medicaid plan in order to start the five-year look-back period in the event the community spouse ends up needing skilled nursing home care down the line. The transfer by the community spouse to an irrevocable Trust would not be made until after the institutionalized spouse is approved for MassHealth benefits. The Estate Recovery Unit cannot place a lien on the home as long as the spouse not applying for MassHealth benefits is still living in the home. It is best for the community spouse to transfer the home to an irrevocable Trust as opposed to transferring the home to the children with a reserved life estate. If the home is later sold and the children do not live there, the children would have to pay a capital gains tax based upon the percentage of the gross sales price allocable to the remainder interest. The community spouse will be able to take advantage of filing a joint income tax return with the institutionalized spouse and take advantage of the $500,000 capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of the principal residence. You have to utilize the IRC Section 7520 interest rate applicable for the month of the sale of the home, along with Book Aleph to determine the amount of gross sales proceeds allocable to the life tenant, based upon his or her age. Another reason why to utilize an irrevocable Trust, as opposed to a deed to the children with a reserved life estate in the parent, is if one of the children were to die before the parent, the interest in the real estate would constitute a probate asset. The interest in the real estate would also be exposed to creditors or a spouse in a divorce proceeding. The community spouse would also have to get the permission from the children in order to sell the house. The irrevocable Trust avoids all of these potential problems. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation.
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