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Elder Law Attorney
Our attorneys are admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey
New Yorkers over 65 often have unique legal needs that are best addressed by an elder law lawyer, unlike other populations. You may have accumulated assets over the years and need guidance on how best to protect them. Counseling may also be necessary to help you deal with the realities of aging, which include qualifying for Medicaid for nursing home care and setting up a health care proxy.
These difficult decisions are often emotionally challenging. However, they are essential to safeguard yourself and everything you’ve worked so hard for. If you don’t plan well, you might have to sell your assets to help pay for your nursing home care.
Schlessel Law PLLC knows that making these difficult decisions is never easy. Nassau County elder law attorney Seth Schlessel has years of experience dealing with New York elder law. We may be able to help you qualify for Medicaid. We can also help create trusts, wills, and other forms of Medicaid aid, as well as help with probate in Nassau County or Suffolk County, Long Island.
Contact our firm by calling our phone number (516) 574-9630 or emailing us anytime to arrange a consultation.
Elder Law focuses its attention on issues related to the aging process. It covers everything from long-term care planning to guardianship and estate planning. Estate planning is one of the most crucial aspects of elder law. Estate planning is a process that helps people plan how they want their assets to be protected and divided after death. This can help reduce taxes, and it will ensure loved ones are taken care of.
Long-term care planning is another important area of elder law. It can include everything from finding an assisted living facility to arranging in-home care. As they age, seniors and their loved ones face many unique legal issues. An experienced Long Island estate planning attorney who is also knowledgeable in elder law will help them navigate those challenges.
Elder law estate planning is a service that assists seniors with the implementation of estate plans. We have a special focus on incapacity and long-term care. Elder law lawyers are skilled in understanding the needs and concerns of seniors and their families and can offer invaluable advice on many legal matters.
At Schlessel Law PLLC, we assist seniors on Long Island in planning long-term care and determining eligibility for federal benefits. Our experienced Long Island estate planning attorneys may help ensure that legal documents like wills, trusts, advanced directives, as well as other legal documentation are in place. Family members can also get help when guardianship proceedings need to be initiated in order to protect the safety and health of their loved ones who have lost capacity.
Schlessel Law PLLC advocates for seniors living in their own homes and giving them maximum autonomy. Call our law firm today to schedule a consultation if you need an attorney for elder law in Nassau County or Suffolk County.
An Elder Law Attorney focuses on legal issues that primarily impact older adults and their families. Their main role is to advocate for the elderly across various legal dimensions to ensure their clients’ later years are managed with comfort and dignity.
Here’s a detailed look at the responsibilities of these attorneys:
By addressing these critical areas, Elder Law Attorneys play a crucial role in safeguarding the legal rights and welfare of older adults, ensuring they are treated with the respect and care they deserve in their senior years.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Estate Planning | Preparation of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to ensure proper asset distribution |
| Guardianship | Establishing guardianship or conservatorship for decision-making support |
| Healthcare Planning | Guidance on long-term care options, Medicare, and Medicaid |
| Elder Abuse | Legal action to protect seniors from abuse |
| Financial Planning | Advice on managing finances for long-term care |
People face many new challenges as they get older. Senior adults need assistance in navigating complex legal terrains, such as estate planning and long-term care. Attorneys for elder law are trained specifically to help older people and their families with many legal matters. These attorneys can assist with estate planning, Medicaid planning, and guardianship arrangements. A lawyer for elder law is a valuable resource for you and your loved ones as they navigate the process of aging.
There are several reasons seniors may seek the assistance of an attorney for elder law. Some of these reasons include:
An elder law attorney can also help with other legal matters that affect seniors such as reverse mortgages and guardianship proceedings.
For any questions or concerns regarding elder law on Long Island, do not hesitate to contact our firm to speak with a Nassau County elder law lawyer at (516) 574-9630.
While most of us do not think we will ever need to be in a nursing facility, many New Yorkers are finding this a reality as they age into their 80s. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that 1 in 3 65-year-olds will require skilled nursing care in the future.
The median annual cost for a semi-private room in a nursing facility is $145,000. This includes Long Island. The average cost for a home health aide is $57,204 annually in New York. However, the annual cost to live in an assisted living facility costs $70,992. These high costs are why Medicaid, which covers 6 of 10 residents in nursing homes, is America’s primary payer for long-term care.
Medicare and private insurance will not cover nursing home stays for long periods. Some families may be able to cover the costs of nursing homes or invest in long-term insurance. Others will have to use Medicaid. To be eligible for this need-based program, participants must meet certain income and resource requirements.
This means that some seniors will need to reduce their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid. In this way, their nursing home care can be paid for. Medicaid’s “look back” period is five years, for nursing home Medicaid. This means assets that were not transferred at market value in the five preceding five years may make you ineligible. New York has many complicated rules about Medicaid eligibility.
An experienced Long Island elder care attorney can help you plan for your next chapter. Working with an attorney for elder law can allow you to express your desires and create the documents necessary for their protection. Schlessel Law PLLC’s elder law lawyers in Nassau County or Suffolk County can help you navigate this process and protect your assets. We will be there every step of the way to assist you with the complexities of Medicaid.
To schedule a consultation, call our law firm at our phone number (516) 574-9630.
Planning your estate is an important part of protecting your legacy. Proper estate planning allows you to decide what assets should go, who should take care of your loved ones, and how your healthcare should be managed. Estate planning ensures you, your loved ones, and your assets are protected.
The main difference between elder law and general estate planning is that elder law deals with seniors in the implementation of estate plans. This includes long-term care and incapacity as well as wealth transfer at death. Elder law lawyers can assist clients with Medicare, Medicaid, and Guardianship issues. These are particularly important for seniors as they age.
Some common estate planning tools for seniors include:
The Last Will and Testament outline all your wishes and identify the executor who should manage your estate. The will determines what assets are transferred and who gets them. You can ensure that those who are left behind will be able to follow your wishes by having a written Will. Many people die without a Will. The state will apply its default rules when that happens. You may have assets given to someone you wouldn’t choose in the first place. An estate could be subject to taxes or other problems that a Will would have prevented.
A Power of Attorney (“POA”) allows a third party to sign documents and or conduct transactions on your behalf, should you not be able to, or choose not to, act yourself. You may find yourself needing someone to help you make financial or legal decisions at some time in your life. You can give important decision-making power to someone you trust by granting them the power to act on your behalf.
A Health Care Proxy allows a third party to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, should you not be able to make them yourself. It is important to have a Health Care Proxy in place and to have someone you trust to be appointed your Health Care Proxy. A discussion should be had with your Health Care Proxy on what your wishes would be, healthcare-wise, if different scenarios arise.
An Advance Directive, also known as a Living Will, allows you to legalize your desires regarding medical treatments and end-of-life procedures in situations where you are not in a state of mind where you can make decisions on your own. As you and or your loved ones get older it is important to understand the available financial tools and the regulations that can be used to assist you. It is important to plan for the expected and unexpected before it is too late. We will be there for you every step of the way and answer any questions you may have.
Call our law firm today at (516) 574-9630 to schedule a consultation.
A guardian is an individual appointed by the court to make decisions for and act on an individual’s behalf who the court feels will be harmed if someone was not put in place to make these decisions for them.
Guardianship proceedings can be initiated by family members, nursing homes, or government agencies such as the department of social services. Under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law, when the senior is likely to be financially and/or personally harmed because they are unable to care for their finances or themselves, a petitioner may be able to file for guardianship.
Understanding the importance of guardianship proceedings is crucial. The procedure must move quickly. A hearing must be held within 28 days. The petitioner must present evidence at the hearing that AIP is incapable and could be hurt if no guardian is appointed.
Schlessel Law PLLC has experience petitioning for Guardianship. We also have experience acting as a Guardian for the Person and Property of an Incapacitated Person.
Retirement can be a thrilling new chapter in a person’s life. However, it can also be stressful. Many people who retire experience anxiety due to changes in their lifestyles and income sources. Some people fear that they won’t have enough income to cover their monthly expenses or to provide for their needs for the rest of their lives. People are living longer, so they need stable incomes to cover their daily expenses. If proper planning is done, one can maximize his or her benefits and preserve assets for the future.
One important strategy in planning for your retirement is to maximize your Social Security benefits. Social Security income is a vital part of the monthly income of many retired seniors and should not be ignored. Understanding when is the best time to start receiving the benefit can impact the amount the person is supposed to receive.
Ideally, it is better for everyone to start waiting until the perfect age to start receiving Social Security benefits so that they can maximize their benefits. However, in reality, income may be needed sooner than expected. In this case, speaking to an experienced lawyer about what options you have is important. A skilled attorney for elder law can help you plan your retirement to ensure that you receive benefits when you need them while also preserving your Social Security income and allowing it to grow until you reach 70 years old.
Retirement should be a time when you can unwind and enjoy. By having a proper plan in place, you can have peace of mind that your needs will be taken care of in the future.
It can be difficult to know the answers to many questions about elder law when planning for the future. Our skilled attorneys for elder law at Schlessel Law PLLC can help ensure your family’s future is better protected by answering your questions as soon as possible.
Don’t put off making plans for the future. Our highly experienced elder law attorneys will assist you and your family to protect your assets and quality of life. We can help you whether you need to create an estate plan or update existing plans. The legal team at Schlessel Law PLLC is well-versed in protecting your assets and leaving a legacy.
Contact Schlessel Law PLLC’s experienced attorneys in Nassau County or Suffolk County on Long Island at (516) 574-9630 to schedule a consultation.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Please be advised that the results achieved in any given case depend upon the exact facts and circumstances of that case. Schlessel Law PLLC cannot guarantee a specific result in any legal matter. Any testimonial or case result listed on this site is based on an actual legal case and represents the results achieved in that particular case, and does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction of the outcome of any other legal matter. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.
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