Probate/Elder Law Services

Our Services and How We Serve Our Clients

Effective Estate Planning and Probate skills are crucial for the protection of hard-earned family assets and securing the care of loved ones. We have the experience and specialized knowledge of the tax and probate codes necessary to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled through the establishment of appropriate trusts, wills, medical powers of attorney, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements as well as other vehicles.

We also have extensive experience in asset protection as well as Elder Law, Long Term Care and Medicaid Planning.

A Sample of the Services We Provide:

Wills – A will covers any property that is only in your name when you die. It does not cover property held in joint tenancy or in a trust. A will passes through probate. That means a court oversees the administration of the will and ensures the will is valid and the property gets distributed the way the deceased wanted. A trust passes outside of probate, so a court does not need to oversee the process, which can save time and money. We will assist you in the preparation of your will and/or trust.
Durable Power of Attorney (POA) – A durable power of attorney is essential because if a person becomes incapacitated or incompetent without preparing this document, family and friends will not be allowed to make many important financial decisions, pay bills or make important healthcare decisions on behalf of their parent. Nor can they do crucial Medicaid planning. Anyone who wishes to undertake these tasks would have to go to court and be officially appointed the person’s guardian.
Health Care Proxy – Medical power of attorney or appointment of a healthcare agent is a document that lets you to appoint another person (a proxy or agent) to express your wishes and make health care decisions for you if you can not speak for yourself.
Estate Planning/Probate Estates – Counseling clients through the estate planning/probate process. We assist in the proper planning of estates and throughout the probate process. Probate refers to the process whereby certain of decedent’s debts may be settled and legal title to the decedent’s property held in the decedent’s name alone and not otherwise distributed by law is transferred to heirs and beneficiaries.

Trusts – A revocable living trust saves your family time and money by avoiding probate after your death. A testamentary trust, also called a will trust, specifies how the assets of an individual are designated. This document arises at the time of the testator’s death. Unlike a will, which becomes part of the public record, a trust can remain private.
Medicaid Consultations – Medicaid consultations include a review of the current rules governing Medicaid eligibility. By applying those rules to a client’s specific financial and medical situation, solutions are developed. A client can then weigh the pros and cons of each optional solution and, ideally, leave the consultation with a plan of action that preserves, to the extent legally possible, the client’s assets for the benefit of a spouse or family members.
Asset Preservation Planning – Asset preservation planning is legal planning used to protect your home, investments and other assets from being taken or used during your lifetime to pay for things that won’t benefit you or your family. Protect your property and life savings from the potentially devastating cost of long-term care.
Probate and Elder Law – Probate of Wills & Estates, Preparation of Wills, Durable Power of Attorneys and Health Care Proxies, Trusts, Medicaid Consultations and Asset Preservation, Life Estate Deeds.

To schedule an appointment to discuss your Elder Law/Probate needs, please contact our office at (413) 534-4214 or submit your contact information by completing our form.