Elder law is an aspect of law that handles unique legal issues that plagues older adults. Understanding the concept of elder law can be of great help to you when you eventually get old and your aging parents
What is Elder Law?
Elder law is the specified law field that tackles the legal needs of seniors or the aging population. This law has it focus on the legal problems plaguing baby boomers and their aging parents. Lawyers who are conversant with this type of law are widely regarded as elder law attorneys.
There are several legal services that can be of great help to seniors and their families. The following areas of law applies to the needs of seniors and should be handled by a competent elder law attorney:
- Estate Planning
- Health care planning
- Long-term care planning
- Guardianship
The abovementioned categories of legal processes can be designed to meet the needs of the senior in question. However, this is best done with the help of an elder law attorney Buffalo, NY. So don’t hesitate to get one!
Importance of Elder Law
As you or your loves ones grow older, the quality of care you get becomes very crucial. At some point, you may have to make plans for the future to ensure that your needs are met when you become older. When the time arrives, it is important that you hire the services of a competent elder law attorney so the process of planning for your future is as easy as a hot knife cutting through butter. A good lawyer can be very important to the process of maintaining your well-being and that of your loved ones.
Who can an Elder Law Attorney Buffalo, NY do for you?
There are a lot of people out there who believe that elder law is all about drafting will and trust. Of course, a will and a trust are two significant documents of an estate plan or elder law. However, elder law is more than that. You see, elder law is a special area of law that includes representing and advising seniors including their families with several legal issues that are particular to seniors and individuals with special needs.
Below are what an elder law attorney Buffalo, NY, can help you with:
- Estate planning
- Medicaid planning and the protection of your assets
- Long-term care planning
- Questions regarding Social Security, Veteran’s benefits and Medicare/Medicaid
- Health care needs planning that involves health care proxy including other advance directives
- Elder abuse recognition, reporting and prevention
Furthermore, elder law attorneys also educate individuals on the importance of pre-planning. Of course, this may seem useless to those who are young. However, nothing beats making such plans early so you don’t get to bother when the time comes.
Questions to ask an Elder Law Attorney
When you meet with an elder law attorney, there are a few questions you need to ask the individual to ensure that he or she is the right person for the job. You definitely don’t want to hire someone who may ruin the process, or someone who lacks the skills, expertise, and experience to handle the process with ease.
Some of the questions you should ask this individual are:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- How many Medicaid applications does your office handle on a regular basis?
- Hat part of your practice is dedicated to elder law and related issues?
You want to ensure that the elder law attorney you want to hire has the experience and focus you require to make sure that your best interest are safeguarded.
How do you choose an Elder Law Attorney?
There are a lot of self-professed elder law attorneys out there. However, if you want your interests to be protected, you will need to hire the best.
A certified elder law attorney must (CELA) must have practiced elder law for a certain number of hours weekly for a certain number of years, and taken part on a required number of continuing education, according to National Elder Law Foundation (NELF).
Search the National Elder Law Foundation or the NAELA to locate a certified elder law attorney in Buffalo, NY.
Do you need help with an Elder Law Issue in Buffalo, NY?
If you need to talk with a competent and experienced elder law attorney in Buffalo, NY, please feel free to reach out to us.
