Elder Law Attorneys

As elder law attorneys, we advise clients regarding special needs on legal issues pertaining specifically to their situations. Everybody deserves to receive the care and support they need as their health declines and activities that were once easy to perform become more challenging. Elder law is a field that is geared toward helping aging individuals have both financial and physical comfort in their later years.

If you are interested in elder law services or have an aging family member who is in need of legal counseling, do not hesitate to contact the legal team at Wetzel Gagliardi Fetter Lavin LLC.

Long-Term Care Planning

With the baby boomers reaching retirement age (with many living decades into retirement!), planning for the care of senior adults has become more important than ever. Evaluating an individual’s ability to complete activities of daily living (ADL) will determine what type of living environment and what level of assistance a person needs. Medicaid typically covers nursing home care, assisted living, and home-based care services (HBCS).

Partly funded by the federal and state governments, Medicaid offers both physical and behavioral health services to eligible adults. While you may primarily think of Medicaid services benefiting older adults, in Pennsylvania, Medicaid services eligibility is available to children, pregnant women, impoverished adults, disabled adults, and blind adults, to name a few.

Special Needs Planning

If you have a child or dependent family member who is physically or mentally disabled, you will not rest until you know they will be taken care of when you die. We can help you secure government benefits for your child or dependent by creating a Special Needs Trust. By creating the trust, assets will be taken out of the individual’s name, potentially allowing them to qualify for Medical Assistance (MA) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the future.

Pennsylvania offers three types of Special Needs Trusts:

• Common Law Special Needs Trust
• Payback Trust
• Pooled Trust

Each type of trust offers different benefits and drawbacks, so it is imperative that you discuss your family member’s needs with an experienced elder law attorney who can guide you accordingly.

Elder Law Attorneys Devoted to You and Your Family

Our elder law attorneys understand that later life planning can be overwhelming and emotional. With decades of experience in various capacities, our elder law attorneys have seen it all. No situation is too big or small for us to take on.

When you hire our legal team, you can rest assured that your case will receive the personalized attention it warrants. To schedule your initial consultation, contact us online or by phone today.