Dependable Elder Law Counsel for Suffolk County Seniors
At the Setauket law firm of Anthony M. Parlatore, Attorney at Law, our lawyers advise retired people and those approaching retirement about their best options for assuring their future comfort and independence, as well as planning for accidents and incapacity. Contact us to learn how a knowledgeable attorney's advice can protect and expand your options.
Elder law combines elements of estate planning, financial planning and disability planning to meet particular individual or family objectives: protecting eligibility for Medicaid, finding preferable alternatives to nursing home care, and avoiding the need for a guardianship in the unfortunate event of incompetence.
Basic estate planning instruments can help just about everyone
Practically every family stands to benefit from these four essential estate planning instruments:
- Last will and testament to transfer assets after decease, specify funeral preferences, or designate guardians for minor children
- Health care proxy, or medical power of attorney, to name a trusted person to manage your health care in situations when you can't, such as a coma or other serious brain injury
- Durable power of attorney to specify who will look after your financial interests during periods of complete incapacity
- Living will, or advance directive to physicians, to provide clear instructions to your doctor about whether and when to terminate life support
Each of these instruments should be prepared carefully so that they accurately reflect your own preferences and values. Without them, your children and other relatives can be placed in the difficult position of needing to guess as to your wishes or even file for appointment of a guardian for your own protection. These issues can be highly divisive and lead to litigation in the probate courts. It's much better to avoid them altogether through careful planning.
While we're helping you through your basic estate planning documents, we can also help you plan for your own future comfort. Unless you're so wealthy that you can anticipate a comfortable old age under any circumstances, you should give some thought to the Medicaid program's financial eligibility conditions. We can explain these in terms you can understand.
Our elder law attorneys can also help you plan for the long-term care arrangements that are best for you, while helping you identify the resources that will best protect your independence and security.
Nobody looks forward to years in a nursing home. Our lawyers can help you find ways to assure your future comfort and protect you against unforeseen circumstances. Contact an elder law attorney at the law firm of Anthony M. Parlatore and John Leonard in Setauket, New York.