When aging adults and their families are faced with planning for their long term care, issues such as legal documents, financial matters and care planning can become extremely stressful. Expert legal advice can help alleviate the burden and if often the key to solving many problems associated with formulating a long term plan. Elder law attorneys are a great source of information and have the skill set necessary to solve any problems you may have and avoid future complexities. Make sure before choosing an elder law attorney that you check their credentials.
Finding an elder law attorney can also be a daunting task. Knowing where to look is the first step in finding the lawyer that is right for you. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, also known as NAELA, is the leading organization of elder law attorneys. Membership is open to any lawyer. You can search their database of lawyers online at www.naela.org. Another way to find an elder law attorney is simply by word of mouth. Asking friends and families if they have used an attorney in the past and how their planning was handled can give you just the peace of mind that you were looking for. Medical professionals may also have relationships with elder law attorneys and can point you in the right decision.
Elder law attorneys can assist you with:
- Trusts
- Wills
- Durable power of attorney
- Medicaid and VA benefits
- Advance medical directives
