Obtain Legal Advice: Elder law attorneys cater to your legal needs

Making sure that you have the right professional for the job at hand is one of the most important tasks in getting any job done the right way. When it comes to your legal needs, there’s no difference. Finding the right attorney may take some research and time, but in the end, it’s always better to have done your due diligence.

What is an Elder Law Attorney?

An elder law attorney is an individual who specializes in areas of the law that are particularly relevant to senior citizens and their family members.

These attorneys generally focus their practices in a few of the following areas: estate planning, long-term care planning, social security, public and private pensions, Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap insurance, long-term care insurance, age discrimination, durable powers of attorney, living wills, conservatorship and guardianship, or abuse.

Elder law attorneys can offer an especially sensitive ear concerning the sometimes difficult decisions involved in one’s later years. While dispensing legal advice, they are also able to refer clients to other professional and/or non-legal resources that are available to help meet their needs.

Do I Need an Elder Law Attorney?

Because of the expense of legal services, you want to be absolutely certain that your situation necessitates the assistance of a legal professional before hiring an attorney. Before consulting an attorney, you should consider the following questions: Is this a complex legal issue? Is it likely that you will have to go to court? Are there non-legal resources available to help you? Can you resolve this difficulty on your own or with the help of a family member?

To pick the right attorney and save yourself time and money, you must know your needs. If you don’t truly understand your own situation, it can be difficult to explain it to someone else.

Know your own financial limitations and the financial benefits of engaging the services of a specific attorney. In other words, only buy what you need and what you can afford. If you only want a will that names your spouse as your sole beneficiary and there are no other needs, you probably don’t need an expensive package. Be a smart consumer.

Who Pays For It?

In most cases, you pay for the services of these attorneys. However, there are attorneys who will occasionally take on pro-bono cases or will work on a contingency fee. Local law schools are good places to check for assistance as many students will help low-income or disabled individuals to practice their skills.

Information adapted from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorney’s and the National Elder Law Foundation’s websites. For more information, please visit their sites: www.naela.org or www.nelf.org.