Elder law is a legal term coined to cover an area of legal practice that places an emphasis on those issues that affect the growing aging population.
Most elder law attorneys handle a wide range of legal matters affecting older persons, though disabled adults whom are not necessarily elderly also fall under this umbrella. Services provided cover issues related to health care, long term care planning, guardianship, retirement, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and other important matters. Many of the services provided help the client and their families juggle the competing interests of paying for care and leaving a legacy. As an off-shoot of these services however, numerous benefits are gained. These include, but are not limited to, reducing or eliminating the future costs of probate; reducing the risk of family feuds; guiding care and housing choices, particularly with the intention of allowing support and resources to stay home longer; and recommendations on avoiding senior scams.
Many are afraid to go see an attorney (of any kind!) due to the perceived costs involved and eler law attorneys are not exempt from this stigma. Do we charge for our services? Absolutely, it’s our livelihood and we have paid and continue to pay for education to keep our practice sharp. But the charge for our services is small relative to the cost savings for our families and, perhaps even more important, the peace of mind we can bring to otherwise extremely stressful situations.
This article is written by an attorney at Wyatt & Mirabella, PC. Always consult an attorney before making any legal decisions. To make an appointment today for a free consultation, please click here to contact us.