Shannon Pawley, The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm Owner, explains how to financially protect the healthy spouse when one spouse requires long-term nursing care.

DECATUR, GA, November 11, 2025: Shannon Pawley, Owner of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, has posted a new article on the law firm’s website entitled “Protecting the Healthy Spouse: Understanding Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Rules and Planning Strategies.”  Ms. Pawley explains why the spousal impoverishment rules were created and important planning strategies for successful use of the rules.

According to Pawley, “Many married couples are unaware of the spousal impoverishment rules which were enacted in 1988 under the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act. In this article,” she states, “I’m going to explain what this rule helps spouses achieve, along with the ever-increasing importance of advance planning strategies for long-term care.”

Pawley writes, “Too many people find out the hard way that when no planning has been done and one spouse requires skilled nursing care, the costs can quickly deplete a couple’s life savings. In this case,” she continues, “the healthy spouse is often left financially vulnerable.” Pawley also states, “Many people wrongly assume that Medicaid will pay for long-term nursing care. But that is not so.” Pawley emphasizes, “Medicaid, which is a joint federal and state program, helps pay for long-term care only when strict income and asset limits are met.”

As Pawley notes, “To prevent the healthy or “community” spouse from becoming impoverished, federal law established spousal impoverishment rules. The aim of the rules is to ensure the healthy spouse retains sufficient income and assets to maintain a reasonable standard of living.”

Pawley provides the key protections the Spousal Impoverishment Rules provide along with common planning strategies.

The entire article can be read here: Protecting the Healthy Spouse: Understanding Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Rules and Planning Strategies

About The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm

The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm was established to serve the legal needs of retiring citizens. The Firm focuses its entire practice on providing strategies to protect independence, privacy, assets and taxes from the government. Shannon Pawley has grown her law practice by providing excellent customer satisfaction with personalized wealth protection plans.

About Shannon M. Pawley, J.D., LL.M

Shannon is the Owner and CEO of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm. Originally from the Tidewater area of Virginia, she grew up in a close-knit family with a strong tradition of military service. She learned early on the importance of integrity, hard work, and giving back to her community. Her upbringing shaped her desire to make a positive impact and instilled a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that every individual is treated with respect and care.

Her passion for serving others took root during her junior year of high school, when she served as a U.S. House of Representatives Page during the 101st Congressional Session in Washington, D.C. This life-changing experience opened her eyes to the power of diverse perspectives and the importance of advocating for those whose voices are often unheard. Inspired by the experience, Shannon decided to pursue a career in law, dedicated to guiding others through life’s most challenging moments.

Shannon’s educational journey led her to North Carolina Wesleyan College, where she earned her undergraduate degree, followed by a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law. She then specialized further, obtaining an LL.M. in Taxation from Wayne State University. Licensed to practice in both Michigan and Georgia, Shannon is also a VA Accredited Attorney, making her a formidable advocate for her clients.

Throughout her career, Shannon has been a fierce champion for clients from all walks of life, representing everyone from international corporations to single parents. She has always been driven by a profound belief that everyone deserves to have their rights and wishes honored, especially when they are most vulnerable. Whether advocating in the courtroom or guiding families through complex legal decisions, Shannon’s mission is clear: to protect the dignity and independence of every client she serves.

Her passion for advocacy goes beyond legal representation—it’s about ensuring that people’s voices are heard, even when they may not be able to speak for themselves. Shannon is deeply committed to helping her clients age with dignity, grace, and independence, working tirelessly to prepare them and their families for the complexities of aging. Her work is more than a profession; it is a calling to serve, empower, and uplift every individual and family she has the privilege to represent.