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Elder Law

At Georgia Estate Plan: Worrall Law LLC, we are committed to finding families solutions for their loved ones. As we age, our needs change, and we require more attention, care, and respect more than ever. If you are supporting your aging loved one financially, you may be worried about the costs of health care, how to pay for it, and if your loved one has any additional benefits that could help them.

We are ready to help you. Our Marietta elder law attorneys offer personalized and caring legal counsel to families who are going through a change in their lives and need to know what their legal rights are.

Understanding Elder Law

Elder law encompasses a diverse range of areas that pertain to the issues that the elderly and aging members of our community encounter. We help families proactively plan to prepare for the advantaged stages of life by preserving their assets, properties, and other valuables, keeping in mind and planning for the Medicaid five year lookback period. Medicaid planning allows attorneys to advise their clients as they navigate the Medicaid qualification rules which help pay for the high cost of long-term care. 

Do you have concerns about:

  • Running out of money if you (or your spouse) become ill and require significant care
  • Having no control over who provides care for you if you need it
  • Choosing the type of care you want and where you want to receive it
  • Leaving an inheritance to your loved ones, only to have it taken by their creditors
  • Your children misusing the property or money you leave to them
  • Providing support to a loved one with a disability both during your lifetime and after your passing
  • Making sure your wishes about care and your finances are carried out

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, we can help. A long-term care asset protection plan is not a one-size-fits-all set of documents. Each plan is designed based on your concerns, your desires, and your goals.

Elder law also encompasses planning for any crises, such as when a family member quickly needs medical intervention or to be placed in a nursing facility. Our Marietta elder law attorneys cannot stress enough the importance of planning ahead and preparing for what may lie ahead in the future.
 

We take the time to get to know you, your family, and all of your needs. We provide all of our clients with personalized legal services and attentive, compassionate counsel. Planning for the future can be immensely stressful. That is why having legal counsel that you can depend on is so important. We only offer the most sophisticated, intelligent solutions to help our clients.

When is Medicaid Crisis Planning Appropriate?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program available to individuals who meet certain asset requirements that help them pay for long-term care (LTC) costs. Long-term care often creates devastating financial impacts on Americans, particularly the elderly, and for those family members who lose hours of income (and more) while providing care for their loved ones. The Medicaid system is still one of the best options to afford long-term care. Medicaid crisis planning is a strategy that can help you qualify for Medicaid without experiencing financial ruin.

As a joint federal and state social safety net Medicaid differs by eligibility rules and regulations in every state, and even by name. Unfortunately, people often wait until a catastrophic event brings about sudden illness, disability, or other medical crises before planning long-term care. Under duress, a family system will listen and take advice from misinformed individuals, such as non-attorneys or attorneys who do not practice elder law. Perhaps unwittingly, these people tend to give the worst advice: spend everything you have until you qualify under the Medicaid eligibility rules. Though this approach can work, there are far better strategies that can be employed.

With the help of an elder law attorney, Medicaid crisis planning allows you to qualify for Medicaid nursing home/LTC without spending down all of your life's assets. Working with an elder law attorney to devise a personal Medicaid crisis plan is a logical and financially prudent approach to long-term care and allows you or a loved one to use legally approved strategies to qualify for Medicaid before spending everything you own on the high cost of nursing home care.

If you have a loved one who is either in a nursing home or about to enter a nursing home, that is the time to speak to an elder law attorney. There are legal strategies that allow a person who needs long-term care to divest themselves of some of their assets, and use the rest to pay for their care until Medicaid eligibility is met.  The sooner an elder law attorney is employed, the quicker Medicaid eligibility can be met.  However, it's never too late, even if you or a loved one are already in a nursing home. 

The level of complexity involved in Medicaid crisis planning deems it necessary to retain an elder law attorney, preferably one specializing in Medicaid planning. Eligibility requirements vary, calculations are complex, timing is crucial, forms are ever-changing, and laws are amended. An elder law attorney can tailor your financial situation to the best Medicaid crisis planning solution and protect your financial future. 

For more information, please see these blog posts:

What is the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid?

Estate Planning, Elder Law, What's the Difference? 

Understanding What Elder Law Attorneys Do

Finding the Right Marietta Elder Lawyer to Plan for Long-Term Care Needs

Call us at 770-425-6060 and let us identify the issues you and your family need to consider for long-term care of an aging loved one.

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