Elder Law focuses on older adults and their needs over a broad range of legal fields rather than any one specific legal area or problem. The elderly face unique problems threatening their personal and financial independence, both for health care reasons and because of their vulnerability for financial abuses by others. Elder lawyers take a “holistic” approach to the problems of older adults while also using traditional estate planning tools like living trusts, powers of attorney, wills, conservatorships, and special needs trusts.
Some areas of elder law practice include:
- Conservatorships and guardianships for the protection of vulnerable adults;
- Public Benefits Eligibility Planning, including Medicaid eligibility for nursing home assistance, Social Security, SSI, and Veterans Benefits like “Aid and Assistance;”
- Estate Planning, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, health care advance directives, and special needs planning for families with disabilities;
- Planning for Living: working with older adults to help them remain independent and maintain a high quality of life using strategies appropriate for their unique situations;
- Trust and Estate Administration, including administration of revocable and irrevocable trusts, probate of wills, and intestate estates.
Above all, an elder lawyer’s focus and responsibility is always to the “elder” client and finding appropriate ways to enhance and protect his or her quality of life through proper planning.
Our elder law attorneys will consult with you to evaluate your needs and help you achieve your objectives no matter what your particular elder care needs may be.