A Reputable Elder Law Attorney Makes All the Difference

When you need an Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney for yourself or a loved one, how do you find a good one? 

Many people do not know what to expect when they consult with an elder law attorney to discuss their estate and asset protection plan. It has become increasingly common for attorneys to hold themselves out as elder law practitioners only to mask their inadequacies with impressive looking documents, binders, software programs, etc. Unfortunately, none of these bells and whistles will matter years down the road when an individual has a health care crisis and learns that their trust did not protect their assets after all for any of a number of reasons such as: the trust was revocable; it was not drafted accurately; it was not executed properly; or the trust was never funded. 

Estate Planning documents, such as a Last Will and Testament, Living Trust, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, and Living Will, all have one thing in common: they must be drafted correctly, executed properly and comply with the ever-changing statutes and regulations of New York State. In addition, an estate and asset protection plan must also comply with Federal Medicaid laws and tax laws, which also frequently change. As such, plans and documents must be flexible to provide options and be able to adapt to such changes on the state and federal level. A reputable elder law attorney will put appropriate documents in place that you can rely on in times of crisis and will do so without the need for showmanship or exorbitant fees.

When choosing an Elder Law attorney, review websites and biographies. Look for individuals who are leaders of organizations in their field, who speak regularly on topics involving elder law and estate planning and who are honored by their peers for their legal work and expertise. These are the attorneys who don’t need to impress you with elaborate packaging.

When you hire an Elder Law attorney, you are hiring the firm for their knowledge, skills and service. Is your attorney keeping you informed and up-to-date with changes in the law that may affect you?

As always, contact us if you have any questions. Our Elder Law attorneys are always available to address your questions and concerns.

Call us at 631.390.5000 or click here.