Moorestown Elder Law Attorney

Moorestown Elder Law Attorney

Our golden years should be full of adventure and time with family and friends. Unfortunately, many of our fellow seniors are struggling with legal issues which they have no way of solving on their own. These issues threaten to bankrupt them or force them to sell their homes. They need someone with the right legal experience to help them navigate these issues.

We’re Scott Counsel, P.C., an elder law firm in Moorestown, New Jersey. Our legal team understands that seniors have legal needs which differ from those of their children and grandchildren. We can help you obtain important government benefits and protect your assets, so please give us a call to schedule a meeting.

We Help Seniors with Estate Planning

If you haven’t begun an estate plan, you are not alone. According to Forbes, roughly half of those over age 55 do not have a will or any other sort of estate plan. If this describes you, now is the time to schedule a meeting with an attorney.

An estate plan helps seniors prepare for what is coming down the road, whether physical infirmity, incapacity, or death. A comprehensive estate plan should include:

• A will, which identifies who you leave your property to and names an executor to shepherd your estate through probate.
• A trust, which gives our clients more control over how assets are used after death and can lower taxes.
• Advance directives, such as a living will, where they identify what life support treatment they want.
• Power of attorney, in which they can designate an agent to make important decisions for them when they cannot do so on their own .

Many plans also need updating as we age. For example, you might have divorced and/or remarried, or you might have gained substantial assets since you last created a will which you want to leave to specific individuals. A Moorestown elder law attorney can help.

We Assist with Long-Term Care Planning

Most seniors will end up in a nursing home at some point in their lives. Many will spend the last years of their life there, too.

Unfortunately, skilled nursing home care is incredibly expensive, and Medicare Part A only covers six months of stay. A two-year stay, which is not unusual, could put incredible financial strain on people and even lead to bankruptcy.

There are ways to prepare for the costs of long-term care:

• Purchase insurance to defray the costs. We can advise on which insurance policies are best or if it is even worth it to buy a policy at your age.
• Create a trust. Moving assets into a trust helps many seniors qualify for Medicaid to cover the cost of care. You still benefit from the assets, but they do not count against you for purposes of qualifying for this government program.

The lawyers at Scott Counsel can create a detailed asset protection plan to ensure that you do not lose your home while still qualifying for Medicaid.

Our Attorneys Fight for Senior’s Dignity

Far too many seniors are being exploited, abused, or neglected. Some are residents in a nursing home where they face physical or emotional abuse from staff or other residents. Other loved ones are being taken care of by a family member who nevertheless exploits them, often stealing money. According to one study, about 10% of all seniors will be abused at some point.

There are ways to protect your loved ones from this abuse. If you are a concerned child or sibling, we can help investigate the situation and seek to have the senior moved. We can also bring a lawsuit against the nursing home or caretaker who has harmed a vulnerable senior.

Our firm is ready and willing to help seniors who reach out to us directly. Reporting abuse or neglect is difficult. Many seniors reasonably fear that an abuser will escalate their attacks if they are caught reaching out for help. However, all of Scott Counsel’s consultations are confidential and we can move quickly to protect your rights.

Government Benefits

Many seniors rely on government programs to provide critical benefits as they age:

• Medicare is the health insurer for most seniors and pays for doctor visits and some skilled nursing care.
• Medicaid is the health insurer for low-income people, including seniors with few assets. It can pay for long-term care and other medical treatment.
• Social Security provides retirement benefits to workers who paid into the system for a minimum number of years.
• Supplemental Security Income provides benefits to seniors with very few assets or income.

Interacting with a large government bureaucracy is never easy. We have helped clients sue to obtain benefits they are entitled to or negotiate the settlement of a claim.

We Can Seek Guardianship of a Loved One

Managing our daily affairs becomes harder as we age. Both physical and mental infirmities can impede the ability to pay bills on time, deposit checks, or make medical decisions. Sometimes, a guardianship is the best way to ensure a loved one is protected.

New Jersey law allows concerned individuals to seek guardianship of a person who is unable to take care of themselves. There are two types of guardianship:

• Guardian of the estate. This person obtains power to make financial decisions for the ward.
• Guardian of the person. This person can make medical and other decisions affecting the ward personally, such as where they live or when they enter a nursing home.

The guardian has considerable power—which is ripe for abuse. Our lawyers can meet with concerned family members who believe a guardian is abusing their power. Sometimes, legal intervention is required to protect a ward’s finances or appoint a new guardian.

Contact a Moorestown Elder Law Attorney to Learn More

If you need elder law services, Scott Counsel can help. We have decades of collective experience to put at your disposal to solve whatever legal issues you are facing. Your well-being is our highest priority. Please call us today at (856) 281-3131 or submit an online message.