There are certain legal issues that impact senior citizens, and elder law attorneys focus on this area of the law. Since so many baby boomers are reaching retirement age at the present time, there are a lot of people out there looking for answers. Elder law attorneys assist clients who are trying to navigate through the eventualities of aging.
While there are many different elder law matters that seniors should understand, there is one issue that stands above the rest.
Living Assistance
If all goes well, you will enjoy your active retirement years to the fullest. This takes careful planning along the way, but your retirement years can be among the best years of your life.
To be comprehensively prepared, you should also consider the period of life that people call the twilight years. When you reach an advanced age, you may need help with your day-to-day needs. In fact, seven out of every ten seniors will someday need long-term care according to a government agency.
This care is very expensive, and it can wipe out everything that you intended to leave behind to your loved ones if you have to pay out-of-pocket. Medicare will not pay for long-term care, so this is not the solution.
Elder law attorneys advise people who are concerned about long-term care costs. For many, Medicaid is the logical place to turn.
This government health insurance program will pay for long-term care, but there are income and asset limits. You could give assets to your loved ones before you apply, but you have to act in advance. If you give away assets within five years of applying, you are penalized, and your eligibility is delayed. As a result, you must plan ahead in advance if you want to qualify for Medicaid without paying out-of-pocket while you serve the penalty.
Attorney Fees
Now that we have looked at the most pressing elder law issue of our day, we can get to the question that serves as the title of this post. Each law firm has its own policy with regard to billing.
Some firms charge by the hour, and hourly fees can vary depending on the level expertise that is required for each respective task. Incidental out-of-pocket expenses may also be added.
There are other firms who will charge a flat fee for services rendered.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you take the right steps, you can keep your savings in the family as you simultaneously aim toward future Medicaid eligibility. Legal fees are relatively nominal when you consider the state of long-term care costs.
We offer free consultations, and we would be glad to discuss everything with you in person. To set up an appointment, send us a message through this page: Indianapolis IN Elder Law Attorneys.
Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
- How Can I Incorporate Charitable Gifting into My Estate Plan? - June 6, 2023
- LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Indiana - June 1, 2023
- Debunking Estate Planning Myths - May 30, 2023
