Top 10 Elder Law Issues to Consider and How an Attorney Can Help in Grand Rapids, MI

Elder Law refers to a niche that focuses on the needs and rights of senior citizens. It entails a broad legal field that aims to tackle different issues like social security, long-term care planning, estate planning, etc.

It is important to understand that life will change as you age. Sooner or later, you’ll be on the receiving end of all the above issues. It is in your best interest to be aware of the basics and fundamentals of elder care law. This is where elder law attorneys come into play.

Like most legal fields, elder law too can be a bit complex to understand unless you have a lawyer by your side that exclusively specializes in this area. Being home to the best elder law attorney in Grand Rapids, MI, we at the offices of Sean Patrick Cox know just how important legal representation can be for seniors.

A good elder law attorney can represent the interests of both you and those that are tasked with caring for you in old age. They can provide seniors with crucial legal assistance on a number of issues. These issues are what we will be shedding light on in this article today.

Top 10 Prominent Elder Law Issues

1. Estate Planning

Estate Planning entails a plan that dictates what’s supposed to happen to your assets upon your death. Any elder law attorney in Michigan will tell you how imperative estate planning is to senior legal representation. Now, most people choose to craft their estate plan at an older age. However, the seasoned Michigan Elder Law attorneys at Sean Patrick Cox would beg to differ.

The sooner you start planning, the better. With the help of a good elder law attorney in Grand Rapids, MI, you’ll be able to craft an estate plan that transfers your assets to your rightful heirs without a hassle upon your death.

2. Medicaid Planning

Medicaid refers to a combined state and federal program that can be used to pay for your long-term, medical, and custodial care. With the help of our elder care attorney in Michigan, you can benefit from a Medicaid plan that offers consistent long-term care while preserving your finances and assets.

3. Long-Term Care Planning

If you are 65 or older, there is a strong chance you are in dire need of long-term care. An elder law attorney can help you make important decisions pertaining to long-term care well ahead of time. With the help of our elder law attorney in Grand Rapids, MI, for instance, you’ll be able to determine when or if you’ll be moving into a nursing home, which nursing home you’ll prefer, and how you’ll pay for it.

4. Guardianship

You may become incapacitated in old age. If you don’t prepare a legitimate incapacity plan, the court may appoint a guardian for you. You can avoid this by creating a comprehensive incapacity plan with the help of an attorney in advance. The plan will dictate who your guardian will be, who’ll manage your assets, and who’ll be responsible for making healthcare decisions on your behalf.

5. Elder Abuse and Neglect

Senior citizens are susceptible to abuse more than any other demographic in America. A good lawyer will help you take advantage of elder abuse laws to avoid instances of abuse. These laws were put in place to protect seniors from physical, mental, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse by caregivers. Our attorneys specializing in elder law at Grand Rapids, MI, can help you understand elder abuse law better, negotiate a settlement, or pursue a lawsuit to help you get a deserved compensation for suffering abuse and neglect.

6. Social Security and Retirement Benefits

Your social security can serve as a good source of funds in the event of your retirement. That being said, the benefits program can be complicated to understand. Our elder law attorney in Grand Rapids, MI, can help you assess different claiming strategies and determine what the best age would be for you to get these benefits. They can also help you tackle several other issues associated with social security like survivor benefits and spousal eligibility.

7. Healthcare Directives

With the help of your attorney, you can create a legal document that basically entails a list of healthcare directives for the people who’ll care for you in the event you can’t. The directives could dictate what type of medical treatment you are ok or not ok with.

8. Medicare Planning

As a firm harboring seasoned elder law attorneys in Grand Rapids, MI, we recommend signing up for Medicare when you are 65 to avoid paying high premiums later. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. Our elder law attorney in Michigan can help you understand the options at your disposal so you can get the Medicare coverage you need.

9. Probate and Trust Administration

A good lawyer will help you understand probate laws that are integral to the success of your estate planning. A seasoned lawyer will considerably simplify the process and also advocate for steps that could help you avoid probate altogether. The lawyers can also help you create trusts that help protect assets and serve a bunch of other purposes.

10. Age Discrimination

It is common for senior citizens to face age discrimination in the workplace when it comes to hiring, pay, promotion, etc. An elder law attorney can help you recognize this discrimination and help you pursue a lawsuit to get what you deserve.

How an Elder Law Attorney in Grand Rapids, MI can Help

There is a plethora of things an elder law attorney can do for you to make sure you spend your older years in peace.

1. Experience and Knowledge of Elder Law

They can use their extensive knowledge of elder law to help you with a number of issues, most of which we’ve discussed above.

2. Personalized Legal Advice

You can expect our attorneys to offer you personalized legal based on your specific situation and the unique challenges you are facing in old age.

3. Assistance in Legal Documents

Just like any other legal area, Elder Law also involves a lot of paperwork. An elder law attorney will organize and manage these documents pertaining to your estate plan, will, Medicaid, trusts, etc. on your behalf.

4. Advocacy in Court

Although elder law usually involves a lot of bureaucratic elements, an elder law attorney will advocate for your rights in court if the need arises. Whether it is elder abuse or age discrimination, they’ll pursue a lawsuit on your behalf to get you a satisfactory settlement if you’ve been wronged. 

5. Protection of Rights and Assets

An elder law attorney will help you take all the steps necessary to protect your accumulated wealth as you grow older. They’ll make sure your estate is protected from heavy taxes and also ensure you qualify for long-term care without having to depend on your assets.

6. Peace of Mind for Seniors and Their Families

As we mentioned before, the primary purpose of an elder law attorney is to ensure the interests of you and your loved ones are protected as you get old. These attorneys make sure these interests are served with the help of excellent estate planning, trust administration, Medicaid planning, asset protection planning, and more.

Conclusion

Elder law is something you should be aware of to have a comfortable and stress-free old age. With a good elder law attorney, you can make sure your financial, medical, and psychological needs are met. It is a way to make sure you and your loved ones aren’t being exploited. Elder law can be confusing to navigate without a good lawyer.

Time flies by in the blink of an eye. So we would suggest start planning for your old age right away to avoid problems in the future. The lawyers at Sean Patrick Cox know just how to guide you and your family. We’ll explain everything there is to know about elders in clear terms.

So whether it is to create a will or plan for long-term care, call us right away to schedule a free initial meeting with our elder law attorney in Grand Rapids, MI.