What is Elder Law?

 Elder law is a practice area devoted to the needs of a particular type of client as opposed to a particular area of law. While not all elder law clients perceive themselves as elderly, many of them have similar needs.

Elder law attorneys must be knowledgeable in many areas of the law, including guardianships, long-term care planning, advance health care directives, powers of attorney, estate planning, probate and trust administration, asset protection, special needs trusts and planning, and elder abuse. Elder law attorneys take a holistic approach to addressing clients’ concerns by focusing on the problem to be solved and not one particular area of law.

Why might I need an elder law attorney? If you or a loved one is concerned about cost of long-term care and how you will pay for it, then you should speak to an elder law attorney. The elder law attorney will be able to explain to you the various methods of paying for long-term care, including the government benefit programs that are available and how to qualify for them. If you are concerned about planning for a time when you might not be able to make decisions on your own, then an elder law attorney can explain to you the various options that are available to you to make sure your wishes are carried out in the event you become incapacitated. These are just a couple of the many ways an elder law attorney can assist you. There are many more types of situations where an elder law attorney can be helpful. That is why it is so important for you to speak with one so that your individual concerns can be addressed.