What Does an Elder Law Attorney Do?
WAGM’s recent article entitled “A Closer Look at Elder Law” takes a look at some of the finer points of estate planning and elder law.
Elder law focuses on issues that concern older people. However, it’s not just for older people. Often, the term “elder law” is a subset of estate planning where the attorney specializes in helping clients make a plan for long-term care. This will often involve the use of Medicaid in your estate plan.
Elder law attorneys frequently also speak with family members of older people about their concerns.
Wills and estate planning may not be the most riveting topics of conversation. However, in this day and age, they can be one of the most important tools to ensure your wishes are carried out after you’re gone.
An attorney who practices in this area of law will talk to a senior or his or her family and ask questions to determine what they may require. In many cases, there are things that can and should be done immediately.
In many instances, a senior member of their family isn’t sure what they should do. An elder law attorney will walk them through the process.
One of the main concerns is, “How do I get started and how much planning do I have to do before hand?”
As far as an estate plan, everyone should have a will, a financial power of attorney, a medical power of attorney and a healthcare directive.
Elder law often also centers upon long-term care planning, and this should be started before a senior is in a crisis and needs an immediate solution.
With planning, an elder law attorney can help with questions about Medicaid, protecting assets and proper senior care, whether that’s at home or in a care facility.
This can benefit families who want to help protect their loved ones, lifestyle and assets; retirees and pre-retirees who’d like to preserve the savings they’ve worked hard to compile over the years; and those seniors who may not have someone to care for them or significant assets to pay for these costs.
Planning can also ease the transition, if a senior suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and will require specialized care.
BOOK A CALL with me, Ted Vicknair, Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, Board Certified Tax Law Specialist, and CPA to learn more about estate planning, incapacity planning, and asset protection.
If you liked this article, “What Does an Elder Law Attorney Do?” read these additional articles: Why Did ‘The Boss’ Sell His Music Catalog? and Should I Get a Medical Alert System? and What If I Become a Sudden Caregiver for a Senior? and Do I Get Ex’s 401(k) because I Was Named the Beneficiary?
Reference: WAGM (Dec. 8, 2021) “A Closer Look at Elder Law“
