Clarksville Elder Law Attorneys Providing Experienced Guidance for Seniors & Their Families
Elder law is the most client-focused area of law, in which cases are defined by the clients served rather than by practice areas. An elder law attorney provides legal advice and services to families of aging or disabled individuals who require special care in addition to estate planning and benefits. This often requires a multidisciplinary or holistic approach to handle the needs of older adults. Crow Estate Planning & Probate, PLC offers elder law services to countless clients across Clarksville and surrounding areas.
How Can an Elder Law Attorney Help Me With My Disabled or Aging Loved One?
It is not unusual for families to find themselves facing that their loved one will require long-term care due to aging or disability. This may come with or without notice and quickly become a source of being overwhelmed and concerned. Besides health-related issues, such as nursing home placement and medical bills, there is always the matter of protecting their loved one’s assets while still covering living expenses. It might be hard to know where to even start or what mistakes to avoid.
An elder care attorney is essentially an advocate for the older adult and their families. The lawyer goes beyond standard legal advice and can handle various issues related to aging—from health care and life planning to estate and financial matters. An elder care attorney helps clients create a plan for their care needs that includes how they will pay for those needs and what government benefits they may apply for. In addition, Social Security and Medicare laws and regulations can be quite complex and ever-changing. An elder care attorney can help you and your loved one keep up with those changes and understand how they may impact your situation. Some examples of what an elder care attorney can do includes:
- Wills, estate planning, and probate proceedings assistance
- Create essential documents, such as a power of attorney and healthcare directive
- Financial planning and representation
- Assisting with filing for guardianship or conservatorships
- Providing help with nursing home placement and managing related costs, as well as explaining resident rights and filing nursing home claims
- Advocating for the client’s best interests and quality of life
- Fighting for clients who were victims of elder abuse, neglect, or fraud
What is the Difference Between Elder Law and Estate Planning?
The key difference is that elder law helps you make plans to preserve your assets and income while you are alive. Estate planning helps you determine what will happen to your assets and property once you pass away. While they are different areas of law practice, they go hand-in-hand, helping to ensure you’ll receive the care you need as you age while also protecting your wealth, so you can pay for your care and still have an estate to pass on to your loved ones when you are gone.
Thinking about aging and death is an uncomfortable topic that many people do not wish to discuss. However, having a plan and all the proper documents in place will allow you and your family to enjoy life for many years to come without worrying fully. That is why it is important to hire a Clarksville estate planning attorney well-versed in both estate planning and elder law. Both areas often use the same documents and similar strategies, giving you and your family peace of mind and a solid plan for what should happen if you need special care or skilled nursing care and what will happen to your assets after you die. Avoiding the topic is a common mistake that puts your wealth at risk and leaves your family scrambling to find last-minute solutions.
We Are Here When Your Family Needs Us
At Crow Estate Planning and Probate, we are well-versed in both elder law and estate planning in Tennessee and can help you and your family make plans that protect you and your assets from the devastatingly high costs of long-term care. With the right financial and care plans and documentation in place, you and your loved ones will be better equipped to deal with an elder care or special needs crisis if and when it arises.
Crow Estate Planning and Probate, PLC serves clients in Clarksville, TN, and all across Montgomery, Stewart, Robertson, Houston, Dickson, and Cheatham counties. Contact us at 931-218-7800 and schedule an appointment to discuss your elder law concerns and questions. We are here to help you and your family plan for the future.