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Katie is a visionary in her own right, leading Headquarters Mental Wellness, a dynamic mental health collective designed to connect people with care that actually fits their lives. Together, they’ve created a home that’s faith-filled, high-energy, a little crazy, and full of love—the kind of household where the Wi-Fi is never fast enough, but the laughter is loud and constant.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":211,"children":212},{},[213],{"type":176,"value":214},"Mike also serves as the Director of Fitness for Rise Up Kings, where he helps faith-driven men become stronger leaders in their businesses and in their homes. 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She is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where she studied Business Administration. After her undergraduate studies, Anisha received an honors scholarship to attend the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She was ranked in the top 5% of her class throughout her time in law school and served as an Editor on the school’s Law Review. Anisha graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded the Distinguished Student Award for her graduating class.","Anisha D. Rutkowski","Attorney","/img/team/anisha-rutkowski.webp","Head shot of Anisha Rutkowski",[165],{"type":20,"children":313,"toc":333},[314,318,323,328],{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":315,"children":316},{},[317],{"type":176,"value":306},{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":319,"children":320},{},[321],{"type":176,"value":322},"Anisha has served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Gerald E. Rosen in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Honorable Michael Warren in the Oakland County Circuit Court. She spent five years working for the State of Michigan, first as a prehearing attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals and then completing two judicial clerkships with the Michigan Supreme Court.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":324,"children":325},{},[326],{"type":176,"value":327},"Anisha has served as an adjunct professor at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she instructed law students on advanced legal research and writing methods. She has also served as a mentor for aspiring lawyers through Cooley’s Mentor Jet program.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":329,"children":330},{},[331],{"type":176,"value":332},"Anisha was born and raised in Rochester, Michigan. After moving to northern Michigan for a few years early in her legal career, she and her husband returned to Rochester to work and raise their children. Outside of practicing law, Anisha is an avid reader, enjoys horseback riding and, most of all, weekend adventures with her family.",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":334},[],"content:about-us:team:anisha-rutkowski.md","about-us/team/anisha-rutkowski.md","about-us/team/anisha-rutkowski",{"_path":339,"_dir":155,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":340,"description":341,"name":340,"role":308,"imageUrl":342,"leadership":161,"order":343,"imageAlt":344,"practiceAreas":345,"body":346,"_type":26,"_id":364,"_source":28,"_file":365,"_stem":366,"_extension":31},"/about-us/team/eric-ruth","Eric Ruth","Eric Ruth is an estate planning and probate attorney at Rutkowski Law Firm who brings a rare and valuable perspective to his practice. In addition to estate planning, Eric spent years as a probate litigator representing families in complex, high-conflict estate and trust disputes. He witnessed firsthand how poorly designed plans, unclear intentions, and lack of preparation can create lasting stress and division for loved ones. That experience now shapes the way he approaches every client matter: building thoughtful, durable plans designed to protect families when it matters most.","/img/team/eric-ruth.webp",3,"Head shot of Eric Ruth",[165],{"type":20,"children":347,"toc":362},[348,352,357],{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":349,"children":350},{},[351],{"type":176,"value":341},{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":353,"children":354},{},[355],{"type":176,"value":356},"Eric focuses on helping individuals and families create estate plans that provide clarity, protection, and peace of mind. He is known for combining a strategic, detail-oriented approach with a down-to-earth and approachable style that helps clients feel comfortable navigating difficult decisions.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":358,"children":359},{},[360],{"type":176,"value":361},"Eric earned his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and his bachelor's from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where he also served in the U.S. Navy for five years. Outside the office, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife and young son. He is passionate about family, coaching, writing, and staying active — especially outdoors with his family whenever he can.",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":363},[],"content:about-us:team:eric-ruth.md","about-us/team/eric-ruth.md","about-us/team/eric-ruth",{"_path":368,"_dir":155,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":369,"description":370,"name":369,"role":371,"imageUrl":372,"leadership":161,"order":373,"imageAlt":374,"practiceAreas":375,"body":376,"_type":26,"_id":399,"_source":28,"_file":400,"_stem":401,"_extension":31},"/about-us/team/gail-gonos","Gail Gonos","Gail is a dedicated paralegal with over 25 years of experience with a strong focus on estate planning, trust administration, corporate, probate and client support. She works closely with attorneys and clients to ensure that every document is prepared accurately and timely.","Paralegal","/img/team/gail-gonos.webp",4,"Head shot of Gail Gonos",[165],{"type":20,"children":377,"toc":397},[378,382,387,392],{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":379,"children":380},{},[381],{"type":176,"value":370},{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":383,"children":384},{},[385],{"type":176,"value":386},"With a detail-oriented mindset and a calm, compassionate approach, Gail helps guide clients through what can often feel like complex or emotional decisions. She plays a key role in drafting documents, managing case files, and ensuring that each plan aligns with the client’s goals and the firm’s high standards. ",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":388,"children":389},{},[390],{"type":176,"value":391},"Gail is known for her reliability, professionalism, and commitment to making sure clients feel supported every step of the way. She takes pride in contributing to plans that provide clarity, protection, and peace of mind for individuals and families. ",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":393,"children":394},{},[395],{"type":176,"value":396},"When Gail is not working, she enjoys walks on the beach, hiking, and kayaking, but is best known for her passion for football.",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":398},[],"content:about-us:team:gail-gonos.md","about-us/team/gail-gonos.md","about-us/team/gail-gonos",[403,622,842],{"_path":404,"_dir":405,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":406,"description":407,"date":408,"imageUrl":409,"imageAlt":410,"author":158,"body":411,"_type":26,"_id":619,"_source":28,"_file":620,"_stem":621,"_extension":31},"/blog/don-t-let-a-michigan-medicaid-spend-down-destroy-your-estate-plan","blog","Don’t let a Michigan Medicaid spend-down destroy your estate plan","How to qualify for long-term care benefits without sacrificing your family’s multi-generational goals.","2026-05-26T00:00:00Z","/img/blog/rlf-blog-do-not-let-michigan-medicaid-spend-down.webp","women around flowers",{"type":20,"children":412,"toc":614},[413,429,434,439,449,454,459,502,511,516,521,565,570,579,584,589,602,610],{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":414,"children":415},{},[416,418,427],{"type":176,"value":417},"When an aging loved one suddenly needs long-term care, your attention naturally turns to finding the right facility and figuring out how to pay for it—often by looking into Michigan Medicaid. But one of the biggest risks in this kind of crisis is treating ",{"type":171,"tag":179,"props":419,"children":424},{"href":420,"target":421,"rel":422},"/medicaid-planning/","_blank",[423],"noopener",[425],{"type":176,"value":426},"Medicaid planning ",{"type":176,"value":428},"and estate planning as completely separate concerns.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":430,"children":431},{},[432],{"type":176,"value":433},"When families pursue a Medicaid strategy in isolation, they may make abrupt, reactive financial decisions just to qualify for benefits. In the process, they can unintentionally undo years—or even decades—of careful, intentional estate planning.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":435,"children":436},{},[437],{"type":176,"value":438},"Lasting financial security comes from a unified approach. By thoughtfully coordinating your spend-down strategy with your long-term goals, you can qualify for the care you need now while preserving the legacy you intend to pass on.",{"type":171,"tag":216,"props":440,"children":442},{"id":441},"the-unintended-fallout-of-a-rushed-spend-down",[443],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":445,"children":446},"strong",{},[447],{"type":176,"value":448},"The Unintended Fallout of a Rushed Spend-Down",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":450,"children":451},{},[452],{"type":176,"value":453},"A hastily executed spend-down can do far more damage than most families in Michigan realize. When panic takes over in a crisis, well-meaning relatives often start moving assets, closing accounts, or liquidating property without consulting a medicaid planning attorney.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":455,"children":456},{},[457],{"type":176,"value":458},"These hurried financial choices can cause significant disruptions across four critical areas:",{"type":171,"tag":234,"props":460,"children":461},{},[462,472,482,492],{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":463,"children":464},{},[465,470],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":466,"children":467},{},[468],{"type":176,"value":469},"Upsetting Established Trusts:",{"type":176,"value":471}," If you have already established an irrevocable trust and Medicaid rules are not strictly factored into your next move, withdrawing assets from a trust or improperly modifying funded accounts can strip away the legal protections you worked hard to build.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":473,"children":474},{},[475,480],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":476,"children":477},{},[478],{"type":176,"value":479},"Dismantling Inheritance Plans:",{"type":176,"value":481}," A random debt payoff or asset liquidation can inadvertently deplete the specific funds or properties you intended to leave to a particular child or grandchild.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":483,"children":484},{},[485,490],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":486,"children":487},{},[488],{"type":176,"value":489},"Altering Beneficiary Intentions:",{"type":176,"value":491}," Transferring or spending down assets without updating your broader estate documents can create an accidental imbalance, resulting in an unequal distribution among your heirs and triggering intense family conflict.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":493,"children":494},{},[495,500],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":496,"children":497},{},[498],{"type":176,"value":499},"Compromising Long-Term Asset Protection Goals:",{"type":176,"value":501}," Spending down the wrong assets first can leave a surviving spouse financially vulnerable or expose a family home to future estate recovery claims by the state.",{"type":171,"tag":216,"props":503,"children":505},{"id":504},"harmonizing-your-care-strategy-with-your-legal-legacy",[506],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":507,"children":508},{},[509],{"type":176,"value":510},"Harmonizing Your Care Strategy with Your Legal Legacy",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":512,"children":513},{},[514],{"type":176,"value":515},"Qualifying for state benefits does not require you to dismantle your life’s work. Comprehensive medicaid estate planning is designed to harmonize immediate healthcare needs with multi-generational wealth preservation.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":517,"children":518},{},[519],{"type":176,"value":520},"Achieving this balance requires the careful coordination of four distinct moving parts:",{"type":171,"tag":522,"props":523,"children":524},"ol",{},[525,535,545,555],{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":526,"children":527},{},[528,533],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":529,"children":530},{},[531],{"type":176,"value":532},"Irrevocable Trusts:",{"type":176,"value":534}," Utilizing specific, state-compliant trusts to hold and protect assets well in advance of the Medicaid application process.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":536,"children":537},{},[538,543],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":539,"children":540},{},[541],{"type":176,"value":542},"Overarching Estate Plans:",{"type":176,"value":544}," Keeping your Wills, Healthcare Proxies, and Financial Powers of Attorney fully aligned with your long-term care strategy.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":546,"children":547},{},[548,553],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":549,"children":550},{},[551],{"type":176,"value":552},"The Spend-Down Strategy:",{"type":176,"value":554}," Directing countable assets exclusively toward state-approved, non-countable items (such as home modifications or debt elimination) that genuinely improve your family's baseline security.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":556,"children":557},{},[558,563],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":559,"children":560},{},[561],{"type":176,"value":562},"Long-Term Care Planning:",{"type":176,"value":564}," Selecting care facilities and medical services that fit your lifestyle values while maximizing your available public and private benefits.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":566,"children":567},{},[568],{"type":176,"value":569},"When these elements are structured correctly, the spend-down process ceases to feel like a financial loss and instead becomes a tool for reinforcing your existing plan.",{"type":171,"tag":216,"props":571,"children":573},{"id":572},"proactive-planning-wins-every-time",[574],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":575,"children":576},{},[577],{"type":176,"value":578},"Proactive Planning Wins Every Time",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":580,"children":581},{},[582],{"type":176,"value":583},"The key to preserving your family goals while navigating public benefits is time. Engaging in proactive medicaid asset protection planning long before a medical crisis occurs opens up a much wider array of legal and financial options.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":585,"children":586},{},[587],{"type":176,"value":588},"For instance, proactive planning allows you to establish a customized Medicaid planning trust, which helps protect your home and core savings from long-term care costs while cleanly navigating the state's strict 5-year look-back window. Waiting until a crisis forces your hand limits you to a narrow set of immediate spend-down options and drastically reduces your ability to protect your hard-earned assets.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":590,"children":591},{},[592,594,600],{"type":176,"value":593},"Your legacy shouldn't be the price you pay for healthcare. If you want to ensure your long-term care strategy works ",{"type":171,"tag":595,"props":596,"children":597},"em",{},[598],{"type":176,"value":599},"with",{"type":176,"value":601}," your estate plan rather than against it, taking a proactive, comprehensive approach is the only way forward.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":603,"children":604},{},[605],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":606,"children":607},{},[608],{"type":176,"value":609},"Are you ready to build a Medicaid strategy that honors your long-term estate goals?",{"type":171,"tag":611,"props":612,"children":613},"br",{},[],{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":615},[616,617,618],{"id":441,"depth":24,"text":448},{"id":504,"depth":24,"text":510},{"id":572,"depth":24,"text":578},"content:blog:don-t-let-a-michigan-medicaid-spend-down-destroy-your-estate-plan.md","blog/don-t-let-a-michigan-medicaid-spend-down-destroy-your-estate-plan.md","blog/don-t-let-a-michigan-medicaid-spend-down-destroy-your-estate-plan",{"_path":623,"_dir":405,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":624,"description":625,"date":626,"imageUrl":627,"imageAlt":628,"practiceArea":629,"author":158,"body":630,"_type":26,"_id":839,"_source":28,"_file":840,"_stem":841,"_extension":31},"/blog/is-your-estate-plan-a-death-document-or-a-life-document","Is your estate plan a \"death document\" or a \"life document\"?","Why a standard Will or Trust isn't enough to protect your savings from the $12,000/month cost of long-term care.\n","2026-03-25T00:00:00Z","/img/blog/rlf-blog-is-your-estate-plan-a-life-doc-mar-30.webp","old couple","estate-planning",{"type":20,"children":631,"toc":834},[632,646,665,674,684,696,709,718,734,758,791,800,811,823,831],{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":633,"children":634},{},[635,637,644],{"type":176,"value":636},"There is a common misconception that once you have a Will or a ",{"type":171,"tag":179,"props":638,"children":641},{"href":639,"target":421,"rel":640},"/practice-areas/estate-planning/trusts/irrevocable-trust/",[423],[642],{"type":176,"value":643},"Revocable Living Trust",{"type":176,"value":645},", your \"legal house\" is fully built and protected. You’ve done the right thing to avoid probate and ensure your assets go to your children.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":647,"children":648},{},[649,651,656,658,663],{"type":176,"value":650},"However, at ",{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":652,"children":653},{},[654],{"type":176,"value":655},"Rutkowski Law Firm",{"type":176,"value":657},", we often have to share a sobering reality: Most traditional estate plans are \"death document\" strategies. They focus almost exclusively on what happens ",{"type":171,"tag":595,"props":659,"children":660},{},[661],{"type":176,"value":662},"after",{"type":176,"value":664}," you are gone.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":666,"children":667},{},[668,672],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":669,"children":670},{},[671],{"type":176,"value":255},{"type":176,"value":673},", by contrast, is a \"life document\" strategy. It is designed to protect you, your spouse, and your independence while you are still very much here, but perhaps facing a health change.",{"type":171,"tag":675,"props":676,"children":678},"h3",{"id":677},"the-12000month-reality-check",[679],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":680,"children":681},{},[682],{"type":176,"value":683},"The $12,000/Month Reality Check",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":685,"children":686},{},[687,689,694],{"type":176,"value":688},"In Michigan, the average cost of skilled nursing care has climbed to approximately ",{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":690,"children":691},{},[692],{"type":176,"value":693},"$12,000 per month",{"type":176,"value":695},". For most families, this isn't just an expense; it’s a total liquidation of their life savings.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":697,"children":698},{},[699,701,707],{"type":176,"value":700},"A traditional Will or a simple Revocable Trust offers zero protection against these costs. If you enter a nursing home with a standard trust, the state generally expects you to \"",{"type":171,"tag":179,"props":702,"children":704},{"href":703},"/medicaid-planning/what-is-medicaid-spend-down/",[705],{"type":176,"value":706},"spend down",{"type":176,"value":708},"\" almost everything you own before you can qualify for assistance. Within a matter of months, the inheritance you intended for your children can vanish.",{"type":171,"tag":675,"props":710,"children":712},{"id":711},"adding-the-asset-shield-layers",[713],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":714,"children":715},{},[716],{"type":176,"value":717},"Adding the \"Asset Shield™\" Layers",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":719,"children":720},{},[721,727,729],{"type":171,"tag":179,"props":722,"children":724},{"href":189,"target":421,"rel":723},[423],[725],{"type":176,"value":726},"Elder Law ",{"type":176,"value":728},"takes your existing plan and adds the necessary \"fortification\" to handle long-term care decisions. We move beyond simple distribution to focus on ",{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":730,"children":731},{},[732],{"type":176,"value":733},"asset preservation.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":735,"children":736},{},[737,739,744,746,756],{"type":176,"value":738},"With advanced tools such as an ",{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":740,"children":741},{},[742],{"type":176,"value":743},"Asset Shield™",{"type":176,"value":745}," or a ",{"type":171,"tag":179,"props":747,"children":750},{"href":748,"target":421,"rel":749},"/practice-areas/estate-planning/lady-bird-deed/",[423],[751],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":752,"children":753},{},[754],{"type":176,"value":755},"Michigan Lady Bird Deed",{"type":176,"value":757},", we can structure your property to protect it from the state's reach. These strategies allow you to:",{"type":171,"tag":234,"props":759,"children":760},{},[761,771,781],{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":762,"children":763},{},[764,769],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":765,"children":766},{},[767],{"type":176,"value":768},"Protect the \"Community Spouse\":",{"type":176,"value":770}," Ensure that if one spouse needs care, the other isn't left in poverty.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":772,"children":773},{},[774,779],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":775,"children":776},{},[777],{"type":176,"value":778},"Qualify for Benefits:",{"type":176,"value":780}," Navigate the complex rules of Medicaid or VA benefits without having to \"go broke\" first.",{"type":171,"tag":238,"props":782,"children":783},{},[784,789],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":785,"children":786},{},[787],{"type":176,"value":788},"Preserve the Home:",{"type":176,"value":790}," Use specific deeds to ensure your home base stays in the family and isn't subject to estate recovery.",{"type":171,"tag":675,"props":792,"children":794},{"id":793},"a-plan-for-life-not-just-a-paper-for-the-future",[795],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":796,"children":797},{},[798],{"type":176,"value":799},"A Plan for Life, Not Just a Paper for the Future",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":801,"children":802},{},[803,809],{"type":171,"tag":179,"props":804,"children":806},{"href":181,"target":421,"rel":805},[423],[807],{"type":176,"value":808},"Estate planning",{"type":176,"value":810}," is the foundation, but Elder Law is the roof and the walls. It’s the difference between having a map of where you want to go and having the vehicle that actually gets you there safely, regardless of the weather.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":812,"children":813},{},[814,816,821],{"type":176,"value":815},"Aging shouldn't mean losing control of what you’ve spent a lifetime building. Our ",{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":817,"children":818},{},[819],{"type":176,"value":820},"Done-For-You",{"type":176,"value":822}," process handles the heavy lifting—from legal strategy to the complex task of qualifying for benefits —providing you with the calm clarity you deserve.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":824,"children":825},{},[826],{"type":171,"tag":444,"props":827,"children":828},{},[829],{"type":176,"value":830},"Are you ready to turn your estate plan into a fortified life plan?",{"type":171,"tag":611,"props":832,"children":833},{},[],{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":835},[836,837,838],{"id":677,"depth":343,"text":683},{"id":711,"depth":343,"text":717},{"id":793,"depth":343,"text":799},"content:blog:is-your-estate-plan-a-death-document-or-a-life-document.md","blog/is-your-estate-plan-a-death-document-or-a-life-document.md","blog/is-your-estate-plan-a-death-document-or-a-life-document",{"_path":843,"_dir":405,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":844,"description":845,"date":846,"imageUrl":847,"imageAlt":628,"author":158,"body":848,"_type":26,"_id":1073,"_source":28,"_file":1074,"_stem":1075,"_extension":31},"/blog/private-pay-vs-planning-ahead-how-early-strategy-changes-your-options","Private Pay vs Planning Ahead - How Early Strategy Changes Your Options","Long-term care doesn’t have to drain everything you’ve built. Timing and strategy make the difference.\n","2026-03-04T00:00:00Z","/img/blog/RLF-blog-private-pay-vs-planning-ahead-mar-09.webp",{"type":20,"children":849,"toc":1066},[850,855,860,865,870,888,893,902,914,919,924,933,938,943,966,971,976,981,990,995,1000,1005,1014,1019,1024,1029,1038,1043,1048,1053,1058,1063],{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":851,"children":852},{},[853],{"type":176,"value":854},"When families first hear the cost of long-term care, the reaction is usually the same.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":856,"children":857},{},[858],{"type":176,"value":859},"“We’ll just have to private pay.”",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":861,"children":862},{},[863],{"type":176,"value":864},"It feels inevitable. Nursing homes can cost thousands per month. Assisted living is not far behind. 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That pressure often leads to choices they would not have made with more time and guidance.",{"type":171,"tag":172,"props":1001,"children":1002},{},[1003],{"type":176,"value":1004},"In contrast, families who plan early approach care decisions strategically. They understand what insurance covers. They know how Medicaid fits into the picture. 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