Elder lawCleveland Elder Law Attorney is an area of law that addresses the diverse legal needs of aging populations. Unfortunately, most people assume that elder law only concerns individuals with complex life situations, like special needs, disability, high-valued estates, second marriage, or reckless adult children. While elder law is particularly important to those in these situations, all seniors should become familiarized with elder law and obtain the support of an experienced attorney to protect themselves and their property and assets from what could befall them in their life and beyond.

Consult With an Experienced Elder Law Attorney serving Cleveland Ohio

The elder law attorneys at My Ohio Estates focus their work on the needs of the elderly and their loved ones. Additionally, elder law attorneys are equipped to handle the sensitive physical and emotional needs of older clients as well as the complex and challenging situations that can occur.

My Ohio Estates can assist in the creation of powers of attorney, a living will, a last will and testament, or a trust. In addition, the firm can review long-term care contracts and explain the rights of long-term care residents. To schedule a complimentary consultation with My Ohio Estates, consider calling (330) 562-5951 today.

Elder Law in Ohio

In Ohio, a common concern among seniors is figuring out how to keep their retirement savings from being spent on long-term costs or nursing homes. Another legitimate concern for many seniors is worrying about losing their home to the state in the event of a long-term care stay. Elder law attorneys ensure that seniors and their assets are protected during their golden years and thereafter through help with:

  • Estate planning
  • Long-term care planning
  • Disability or special needs planning

Estate Planning

Estate planning is a systematic approach to determining who will be in charge of one’s property and assets and who will receive the assets after death. Estate planning can include disability planning, and it can also involve plans to avoid probate court. Moreover, estate planning can help ensure that beneficiaries are protected from creditors, divorce, bad decisions, and outside influences.

Comprehensive estate plans may include advance medical directives, a durable financial power of attorney, a last will and testament, and a revocable living trust. Revocable living trusts, also referred to as living trusts, allow people to appoint another to make certain decisions about the property and assets held within the trust.

Probate is a court-supervised process that settles a person’s estate after he or she has passed away. Depending on how the assets are titled at the time of death, probate may not always be necessary. Through a revocable living trust, an estate may be settled privately without the probate process, ultimately saving time and money.

Long-Term Care Planning

Long-term planning focuses on the services seniors often employ when they are no longer able to care for themselves. This part of elder law focuses on home health care, assisted-living facilities or nursing homes, and long-term health insurance. It also deals with the government benefits available to seniors, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid. When it comes to planning for Medicaid and other government benefits, it can sometimes involve the transfer or repositioning of assets with the use of certain trusts in order to qualify.

Disability and Special Needs Planning

Disabilities can occur at any point in life. Disability and special needs planning for older adults focuses on the different support systems utilized to provide protection should they become mentally or physically incapacitated. To prepare for this type of scenario, there are key legal documents that should be prepared in advance, including a durable financial power of attorney.

A durable financial power of attorney allows a person to appoint another trusted adult as a legal agent to make financial decisions on his or her behalf. Using a durable financial power of attorney along with advance medical directives for health care can set out which medical treatments are desired and prevent the need for guardianship. Without any of the aforementioned documents set in advance, a court will leave a court-appointed guardian to make these decisions. In many cases, the guardian is not a person the senior would have chosen.

In some cases, a person with special needs or disabilities and their loved ones may be eligible for certain government benefits, such as Social Security Disability benefits or Medicaid. To ensure the aid is received, some form of estate planning will be needed. Without adequate estate planning, it may be difficult to qualify for benefits and receive the much-needed assistance.

Disability and special needs planning can also involve putting a plan in place to utilize government benefits and community programs for a disabled child to enhance quality of life. In addition, planning can be done ensure that a disabled child who is on government benefits does not inherit money outright that would result in the loss of benefits.

A Qualified Cleveland Elder Law Attorney Can Help You Make an Informed Decision

With the support of a qualified elder law attorney, it may be possible to save hundreds of thousands of dollars through estate planning, Medicaid planning, or a strategic combination of these asset protection methods. When a loved one has already been placed in a nursing home, it is still possible to find ways to preserve money. In Ohio, there is no reason to exhaust life savings to obtain good nursing home care – obtain the support of a qualified elder law attorney who can help.

At My Ohio Estates, the firm works diligently to inform their clients on the facts surrounding senior issues. For My Ohio Estates, it is important that clients and their loved ones are in control and protected. The elder law attorneys at the firm provide a caring and personal service to all their clients and ensure that they understand what their rights and options are. For more information about elder law, consider scheduling a complimentary consultation with My Ohio Estates. Call (330) 562-5951 or complete the confidential online contact form here.