What is elder law?
Elder law involves helping seniors and people with disabilities deal with health care, end-of-life planning, estate planning, and guardianship decisions. My services include a wide range of needs.
- Last Will and Testament
- Power of Attorney (financial & medical)
- Advance Directive (medical decisions)
- End of life planning
- Estate Overview & Planning
- Probates and Estates
Elder law naturally addresses the issues of senior citizens but also their family and the disabled as well. Everyone should have their Power of Attorney and Advance Directive reviewed by an Elder Law attorney. This ensures you won’t discover a problem with your documents when it is time to use them.
Last Will and Testament
Getting an estate overview and plan is a must for those with modest or large estates. A will is used to determine who will inherit what property. Additionally, wills can be used to appoint a guardian for minor children or specify what funeral arrangements should be made at the time of death. All wills must pass through probate. In the absence of a will, the state will distribute an individual’s estate according to the laws of intestacy. Call me to help you plan, create or review your will.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone the authority to act on your behalf. A General Power of Attorney covers a broad range of matters, such as buying and selling real estate and personal property, managing your banking and investments, operating a business, handling taxes and lawsuits, and applying for government benefits. There are other types including a Limited Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney, and Medical Power of Attorney.
Advance Directive
An advance health care directive or advance directive is a legal document that spells out your wishes about your health care. It is intended to be given to the doctor or health care provider and used as a guideline for your health decisions. Advance directives can be general or as detailed as you want. Unlike a medical power of attorney, an advance directive dictates your wishes and doesn’t designate another person to act on your behalf.
End of Life Planning
Whether you are a senior or younger person, being well prepared helps ease the pressure on those you leave behind. By creating a plan in advance, your family, friends, care-takers and doctors can understand how you would like to be cared for both now and in the future. Some of the common and often overlooked decisions are made in advance.
- Property distribution to specified beneficiaries
- Choosing trustees or executor of your estate
- Reducing federal and state taxes
- Plan for incapacity
- Plan for guardianship
- Funeral arrangements & funeral trusts
- Transition of business and/or property ownership
Estate Planning
Getting an estate overview and plan is a must for those with modest or large estates. This is especially helpful because a number of needs are addressed at the same time including a review of the will, trusts, medical and advance directives.
If you, or a loved one is dealing with nursing home issues, end of life planning or in need of wills, or other legal documents, call me.
