Ensuring Aging Clients Feel Prepared for the Future
As people age, they often realize that they won’t always have the good health and sufficient income they might have now. As a result, it’s best to plan for the future before they experience changes in their health and income. Elder law services can assist with this, as skilled attorneys know what plans to put in place for aging clients.
If you’re ready to learn what certain legal solutions can do for you, contact Trusted Estate Planning Attorneys today. We have years of experience guiding Utah seniors and their families through elder law cases, so you can rely on us to assist you with critical issues involving Social Security, Medicare, nursing homes, estate planning, and more. Call our Lehi law office for a free initial consultation with caring attorneys.
What Legal Services Do Our Utah Elder Law Attorneys Offer Clients?
Elder law is a legal area that focuses on the needs of aging adults who might worry about their healthcare and housing situations as they age. Some common concerns include how they’ll pay for medical treatment, whether they’ll eventually need nursing home care, and which family members will inherit their assets.
If you have these concerns for yourself or an aging family member, you can hire us to address some common legal issues, including:
- Medicare and Medicaid planning
- Estate plans
- Long-term care planning
- Disability planning
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Elder abuse protection
- Nursing home care
- Social Security benefits
Whether you have a few specific legal needs to address or wish to review all the legal services we offer our aging clients in Utah, you can count on us to assist you and your family. Call our Lehi law office today to get started on your case.
Do You Need an Estate Plan?
If you have any assets to protect, it’s essential to have a plan that specifies who will get them when you pass away. Our legal team can work closely with you to create an estate plan that lets you control who receives the assets you worked hard for during your life. Depending on your specific needs, your estate plan could include the following legal tools:
- A last will and testament that appoints an executor and states which beneficiaries will inherit your home, cars, bank accounts, household goods, and other assets
- A revocable or irrevocable trust that protects your assets now and transfers them to your beneficiaries when you pass away
- A durable power of attorney in case you become incapacitated
- An advance healthcare directive outlining your medical care wishes
Most people can benefit from these estate planning tools, but there are additional options that might apply to you and your family, depending on your circumstances. For example, if you own a business or have minor children in your care, you might need a business succession plan or guardianship documents as part of your estate plan. Call our Lehi lawyers today to begin discussing the estate plan that’s right for you.
What Does Long-Term Care Planning Involve?
There may be a time when you can no longer live independently and need to move to a nursing home. However, long-term care can be quite expensive, so using your savings or retirement money to pay for it may be unrealistic. Fortunately, there are other ways to pay for the care you need as you age, but you must plan ahead if you want to take advantage of these options.
For example, you might consider buying long-term care insurance now so you can use your policy for nursing home care in the future. Just note that this type of insurance can be expensive, especially if you have health conditions or are considered elderly when you purchase your policy. In addition, some policies have high deductibles and conditions on how long you can stay at a facility, so consider other options if you can’t find an affordable insurance policy that provides the benefits you want for your future.
Among the most common ways to pay for long-term care is Medicaid, which provides assistance to individuals who qualify for this government program. In general, you must be low-income to be eligible for Medicaid, so it’s important to be aware of the criteria before applying.
If your income and assets are too high to qualify you for this program, you should contact skilled lawyers for help reducing them. This is because you can use certain legal strategies to protect your assets so they’re not counted when you apply for Medicaid. Lawyers can use their legal expertise to guide you toward the right option, which might include spending down your assets, transferring them to a trust, or purchasing exempt assets when possible.
If you’re concerned about not qualifying for Medicaid and are interested in learning your options, call our Lehi legal team for help planning for your future. Our practice areas focus on helping seniors ensure they can afford the care they need as they age, so you can rest assured we’ll provide the assistance you need for your legal problems involving elder law in Utah.
Why Should You Hire Elder Law Attorneys in Utah?
At Trusted Estate Planning Attorneys, we understand how difficult it can be to navigate complicated legal issues, especially the ones that affect you as you age. Whether you need to add a durable power of attorney to your estate plan or consider all your options for paying for a nursing home, you deserve legal assistance from skilled attorneys. That’s what you can expect when you come to our Lehi law office for advice on elder law and other practice areas.
When you meet with an attorney from our firm, we’ll review every issue that’s likely to have an impact on your life as you get older. If you have questions about how to get benefits from government programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, we’ll be happy to provide answers. If you’re concerned about how to pay for certain expenses as you age, we’ll explore your options so you can rest assured you’ll have the financial assistance you need in the future. Call 385-993-3523 today if you’re ready to discuss your legal options with experienced elder law attorneys in Lehi, Utah.