Forbes’ recent article entitled “Hiring an Elder Law Attorney” tells us that elder law attorneys are lawyers who assist older adults and individuals living with disabilities, their family members and caregivers with planning related to long term care. Many attorneys are familiar with certain aspects of elder law, but Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELAs) have experience and expertise with these specific planning issues.
The types of issues with which an experienced elder law attorney can help are numerous. They may include some or all of the following:
- Long-term care planning
- Medicaid planning, including the preservation and transfer of assets
- Estate and disability planning, including wills, living wills, powers of attorney for financial and health needs and trusts
- Veterans’ benefits
- Probate and estate administration
- Conservatorships and guardianships, in the event that you become physically or mentally incapacitated
Sometimes families are enticed by offers of “Free VA Planning”, Medicaid qualification guarantees, or do-it-yourself wills, only to find out that the planning wasn’t done properly or completely. Working with a Certified Elder Law attorney can give families the peace of mind of knowing that solid plans are in place in case of incapacity or disability.
Most CELAs offer a free or moderately priced initial consultation. At the end of the consultation, a flat rate will be quoted for most legal work. This way, clients know what the work will cost before signing the engagement agreement. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation. We are here to help.
Reference: Forbes (Oct. 4, 2021) “Hiring an Elder Law Attorney”
