A rapidly emerging area of the law, elder law deals with the issues faced by senior citizens. Now that people are living longer, there are more issues about their future care that have to be included in estate planning. One of the most important questions that is being raised is how to provide long-term housing, with possibly increasing levels of care, as senior citizens age.
Elder law matters that we routinely provide legal assistance on include:
- Medicaid eligibility planning
- Medicaid applications
- Government benefits analysis
- Planning for children with disabilities
- Creating special needs trusts for persons with disabilities
- Establishing Guardianships and Conservatorships through the probate court
One of the most important factors in elder law is advanced planning. Often qualification for government programs have lengthy time prerequisites that must be met prior to receiving benefits. It is important to start considering these factors when you start working with an attorney to develop your estate plan.
Foster Swift has been named a Tier 1 firm in Elder Law in Lansing by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Recent Blog Posts
- Estate Planning Isn’t Just for the Wealthy. Start Preparing Now.
- Communications – Important in planning and in the workplace
- Medicaid Planning and Senior Scams
- What is National Elder Law Month? - A legacy to caring and planning
- COVID-19 Pandemic Creates a Renewed Urgency for Elder Law Planning
- Estate Planning During Coronavirus
- Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments Designed to Protect Seniors in Michigan
- Valuable Benefits that Often Go Unused by Our Country’s Veterans
- Estate Planning Awareness Week
- Checking in on the Family this Holiday Season
Publications & Alerts
- Caring for Aging Parents Takes Compassion, Communication & Partnership, May 1, 2020
- Why Employers Need to Support the “Sandwich Generation”, April 30, 2020
- How to Spot the Red Flags of Financial Elder Abuse, April 29, 2020
- The Paralegal's Role in An Elder Law Practice, NALA Facts & Findings, Fall 2015
- Why Senior Adults Need Elder Law Attorneys, NALA Facts & Findings, Fall 2015
- How to Make Your Eventual Executor Less Stressed Out, go60.us, April 3, 2015
Events
- Trusts 101: Estate Planning for the Disabled, November 14, 2018
- Trusts 101: Grantor Trusts and Ethics, National Business Institute (NBI), November 14, 2018
- ADMINISTERING THE ESTATE EFFECTIVELY and MAINTAINING AN ETHICAL BALANCE IN PROBATE PRACTICE, Probate Process from Start to Finish (NBI), October 16, 2018
- Step by Step Guide to Drafting Wills and Trusts, National Business Institute (NBI), September 13, 2018
- Probate Process from Start to Finish, National Business Institute, May 4, 2018
- Estate Planning Seminar, Michigan Farm Bureau, January 27, 2015 & February 4, 2015
- Elder Law Institute, National Association of Legal Assistants, July 2014
News
- COVID-19 Creates Renewed Urgency for Elder Law Planning, May 1, 2020
- Foster Swift Listed in Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" 2020, November 1, 2019
- Foster Swift Elects New Shareholders, Lansing Regional Chamber, January 21, 2019
- Foster Swift Rated Tier 1 in 27 Practice Areas in Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms", November 1, 2018
- E-book Covers Estate Planning Essentials, October 31, 2018
- Foster Swift Launches Elder Law Blog, May 23, 2018
- 44 Foster Swift Attorneys Named to 2016 Best Lawyers in America® Roster, August 21, 2015
May is Elder Law Month
Foster Swift is commemorating Elder Law Month with the following content around planning and senior care:
- What is Elder Law Planning? Video
- How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Elder Law Video
- What Should I Know About Medicaid Planning? Video
- COVID-19 and Elder Law Planning Video
- How to Spot the Red Flags of Financial Elder Abuse Article
- Why Employers Need to Support the "Sandwich Generation" Article
- Caring for Aging Parents Takes Compassion, Communication & Partnership Article