Estate Planning

 Planning for the future is important, and no matter where you are on your path of life, a proper estate plan is the only way to protect your wishes and your legacy. When it comes to protecting your loved ones, having a will and/or a trust is essential. We utilize our expertise to assist you in creating the proper customized plan for you that protects and preserves your assets for you and your loved ones. No matter how simple or complex your estate planning may be, we will guide you every step of the way. 

Estate/Trust Administration

Losing a loved one is devastating. It is challenging enough without the responsibility of making important financial decisions that have an enormous effect on your family for many years.  Add on the immense grief that you are experiencing and attempt to navigate an unknown and confusing process, and it is all overwhelming. You are faced with the task of having to make sure you handle all the technical details of locating assets, paying bills and making sure your loved one’s assets get to the right people, without conflict. We are here to help. We have the experience to help simplify the administration and/or probate process by taking the stress away from you while we handle all aspects of the estate or trust administration, while allowing you and your family to grieve and deal with your loss, together.

Estate Litigation

One never knows the full extent of grief until your family members begin fighting over mom’s forks and knives. It’s also not just family disputes that arise after the death of a loved one. Too often a relative has been the victim of fraud, duress, and/or manipulation such that their true testamentary wishes are lost to someone else’s greed. Will contests and trust contests based on undue influence or lack of capacity; abuse of power of attorney; exploitation of the elderly; challenge to guardianship proceedings; enforcement of the terms of a trust or demand for an an accounting. These are complex areas of the law and require specialized knowledge. We’ve seen a lot over the years, such that we have the experience and fortitude to zealously represent your interests, no matter what the issues may be or that ultimately arise.

Special Needs Planning

We are committed to providing comprehensive estate planning for families with special needs children. Estate planning for a family with special needs children comes with a complex set of financial, social, and medical issues. So many questions arise as to how to handle these situations, Our job is to help you navigate these challenges.

We offer a variety of estate planning tools and strategies designed to accommodate the unique circumstances presented by children with special needs and their families. We are committed to ensuring that your child with special needs will be well taken care of when you are no longer able to serve as their primary caregiver as well as assist you in planning to pass on the financial assets needed for your child to live a rich quality of life without jeopardizing their eligibility for government benefits. We can also assist you in choosing and appointing a trusted guardian and/or trustee to look after them in the event of your death or incapacity as well as help with locating the best residential opportunities when needed and identifying the best means to pay for them.

Guardianships

It is of utmost importance to have proper estate planning in place that names the individual who will be your guardian or conservator in case of illness or injury, or who will take care of your minor children upon your death. A guardianship is typically sought when through illness, injury or mental decline an elderly or incapacitated person is unable to handle his or her finances and personal affairs. However, guardianship matters also often involve situations pertaining to younger adults with special needs or mental health issues, as well as matters involving minors. We can guide you through the often complex and emotional process of appointing a guardian for you or for your loved ones.

The court appoints Guardians to protect and assist incapacitated persons and/or minors. We represent family members who are seeking guardianship over an incapacitated relative as well as defend people over whom a guardianship is sought when that person opposes it. How facts are presented can make the difference between success and failure. Proceeding without experienced advice can increase costs and effort, which is why it is important to have a knowledgeable attorney who is experienced in the Orphans’ and Surrogate’s Courts on your side.

Elder Law

Navigating the complex elder law landscape can be a difficult and overwhelming task. Having an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the process of long-term care planning is invaluable for ensuring not only the security and care of your loved ones, but also your peace of mind. Whether for yourself or your aging parents, we can help you plan for the financial, medical, and legal challenges that come with growing older.

We are here to help you develop a comprehensive plan to ensure your wishes and preferences are honored in the future, and to protect you and your assets if you become incapacitated and require assisted living or nursing home care.

With the proper planning in place, you can rest assured that you and your loved ones will have the proper safeguards in place to keep you at home as long as you desire, cover the expenses of your care and receive the maximum quality of care when it is needed.

We can also help you qualify for Medicaid and other benefits to help cover these ongoing expenses.

Indeed, utilizing trusts and other asset-protection strategies you and your loved ones may be able to take advantage of government benefits without “spending down” all of your assets or losing everything you own. We can help you design a comprehensive plan that allows you to live out your golden years without worry or financial hardship.