Did you know that elder law attorneys specialize in legal issues facing seniors? There are a variety of reasons that a person may need to enlist the help of an elder law attorney, but everyone should consider these three tips when answering the question of how to choose an attorney.
The first thing to do when faced with the question of how to choose an elder law attorney may be to generate a list of the issues you would like the attorney to address. Elder law attorneys can perform a wide range of tasks, such as helping you or members of your family create a plan for long-term healthcare, including affording a nursing home or in-home care if needed, helping seniors obtain benefits like Medicare and Medicaid, disability, social security, and veterans’ benefits, and preparing key estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. You may not be able to answer the question of how to choose an elder law attorney if you do not first understand what you would like that attorney to do for you.
Once you have identified your needs, the second tip on how to choose an elder law attorney is to make sure that you retain an attorney who has experience addressing those needs. Elder law is a special area of law where seniors and their loved ones have very unique concerns. You need an attorney who understands the nuances of:
1. What to do when a senior needs to find good long-term care,
2. How to secure the long-term care he or she needs, and
3. How the senior and their loved ones, including his or her spouse, will be able to afford this care.
A final tip on how to choose an attorney is to invest the time interviewing the attorney to make sure he or she is the right fit. You want to be comfortable with the attorney you hire as you will undoubtedly need to disclose very personal information about yourself, your finances, your health, and your family in order for the attorney to provide the best representation.
For help with elder law issues, our office is here for you and your loved ones. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Article provided by Gregory Port, M.B.A., J.D., Founder of Port Legal, one of Ohio’s TOP Elder Law & Estate Planning law firms. Attorney Port and his firm are Members of the National ElderCare Matters Alliance and have a Featured Listing on ElderCareMatters.com– America’s National Directory of Elder Care / Senior Care Resources to help families plan for and deal with the issues of Aging.
If you have additional questions about your family’s Elder Care / Senior Care Matters, you can count on ElderCareMatters.com (America’s National Directory of Elder Care / Senior Care Resources) to help you find America’s Top Elder Care / Senior Care Professionals. You can find Local Elder Care / Senior Care Experts by Searching our National Database by City and Service Category. (This Search feature is located on the homepage of ElderCareMatters.com).
The Elder Care / Senior Care Experts who are found on ElderCareMatters.com can provide you with the help you need in a wide range of Elder Care / Senior Care Services, including Elder Law, Estate Planning, Home Care, Assisted Living, Care Management, Daily Money Management, Senior Living, Investment Advisory Services, Tax & Accounting Services, Wills & Trusts, Probate plus many other Elder Care Services.
We look forward to helping you plan for and deal with your family’s Issues of Aging.