Practice Areas
Special Needs Guardianships
Many issues can lead to a loved one having diminished capacity in managing their affairs. Regardless of the reason, preserving the liberty and dignity of your loved one as much as possible is priority one. My law office will work with clients to give them the peace of mind that comes from having the right legal solutions in place whether it be an expansive guardianship, a more limited power of attorney, or some other legal solution.
Special Needs
Planning
Caring for a loved one with diminished capacity often involves more than just obtaining the legal authority to assist or to make decisions on their behalf.
Caring for them may also require creating legal instruments for managing their assets to protect their eligibility for public benefits. Trusts can be created by clients to preserve their loved one’s eligibility for those government benefits as well as to responsibly manage their loved one’s present and future assets.
My law office can assist clients in determining what legal instruments are most appropriate for them.
General Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t something that is only relevant for special needs families and seniors.
An estate plan is important even if someone doesn’t have a lot of assets. It can provide guardianship for minor children, specify healthcare decisions, avoid probate, and protect future assets. Even if lacking an estate plan doesn’t affect you now, it could frustrate the legacy you want to leave to your loved ones.
If you haven’t already drafted a will or other elements of an estate plan, consider scheduling a free consultation with an estate planning attorney.
VA Pension Planning &
VA Claim Appeals
Estate planning for many veterans involves considerations that are unique to them. VA pensions for wartime-related disabilities can offer supplemental income for long-term care of the veteran or their spouse.
VA pensions are not to be confused with compensation for service-connected disabilities (i.e., VA claim). The latter is a separate benefit obtained by filing a claim either pre-separation or post-service.
Both claims and appeals to the Veterans Administration* on service-related disabilities follow particular rules that an attorney can assist you with navigating, increasing the likelihood of success on your claim or appeal.
If you are a military veteran with service-related disability, consider seeking legal counsel to see what options might be available to you for protecting your estate, your loved ones, and your own wellbeing.