There are many challenges to getting older, and addressing these issues gets harder the longer you wait. Top issues include managing physical and cognitive decline, maintaining funds to preserve an accustomed manner of living, and ensuring quality care. Having the proper plan in place can mitigate or eliminate some of these challenges and give you or a loved one a sense of control in the face of the golden years. If you're unsure about how to handle these steps, it may be helpful to hire an elder law attorney. Their understanding of the challenges of aging and frequent solutions to these common issues can simplify getting a handle on your plan.
Lawyers use their knowledge and skill to advance their clients' interests. Clients consult with an attorney to address present and future problems. In the elder law context, this means assessing things like who will take charge in the event the client becomes incapacitated, how to preserve and use funds if medical and care costs increase, and how to provide for loved ones after the client's death. Frequently, a client may be aware of an issue or two, but be unaware of other issues ahead that are harder to spot without experience and knowledge of uncommon subjects.
Once a client's concerns are identified, an elder law attorney can take action to achieve those goals. Frequently, an elder law attorney is called on to prepare documents and create an estate plan. An estate plan can address incapacity, providing for loved ones, and creating a framework for the smooth transition of assets, ideas, and control between generations and family members.
Beyond drafting documents like a revocable trust or a power of attorney, a comprehensive estate plan from an elder law attorney will include advice on how assets should be titled, what issues need to be monitored, and the next steps when certain events occur. All of this advice should be geared toward addressing the identified issues for the client's challenges in aging. With the knowledge in hand, families can avoid common pitfalls and navigate their way to better outcomes.
An elder law attorney can also be called on in adversarial circumstances. In complex scenarios, an elder law attorney may be retained to argue for things like a client's eligibility for Medicaid, why a person should or should not be allowed to continue to make decisions for themselves, and whether to uphold an estate plan or throw out invalid documents.
If you want to protect your loved one's assets and health, turn to Trailhead Estate Planning in Signal Mountain, TN. This local attorney has years of experience and is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. He understands the intricacies of elder law and will help your loved one make informed decisions. Call (423) 228-7029 to schedule an appointment, or visit his website to learn more about his practice.
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