Elder Care Law in CT
Elder law in CT is a specialized field of law that addresses diverse legal needs of aging populations. It focuses on the legal issues affecting senior citizens and elderly parents. Lawyers, like the ones at Weatherby Associates, are versed in these issues and known as "elder law attorneys." They'll assist you in completing an advance medical directive with a durable power of attorney for healthcare.
Elder Population in CT
In CT alone, there's
over 575,000 Connecticut residents age 65 and older. This makes up an estimated 16% of the state's total population of 3.6 million. Those numbers are expected to grow during the next two decades. Among Connecticut’s eight counties, the largest percentage of seniors live in Litchfield County( 19.7 %). This is followed by Middlesex County (18.8%) and New London County (17.1 %). Then, New Haven (16.3%) and Hartford (16.2%) counties are next, followed by Fairfield and Tolland Counties (14.8%). That being said, more people will benefit from elder care law in CT as the years come.
Can you help with a Life Care Plan?
Weatherby Associates assists families in life care plans by evaluating physical, financial, and legal problems. First, physical needs are considered. We'll ask questions such as, "Does dad need help walking? Can he bathe himself, or is he at risk for falling?" Regardless of the problem, the question is how should we solve it?
Second, we'll discuss finances.
You'll be asked questions like, "How can the family afford extra care provided by an outside agency?" Connecticut has home care programs provided by Medicaid that can pay nearly $72,000 per year for home care services. This is a significant amount of care and can mean the difference between staying at home or being forced into a nursing home.
The third leg of the life care plan
Thirdly, many questions are asked concerning VA, state, and federal program eligibility. We'll help find which assets can be kept, whose name they should be in, and more. The rules can be confusing, so having an attorney on your side is important. Elder law attorneys who focus their legal practices on these issues take a holistic approach. We'll assist with working with the seniors and their family members, so you'll have a great team on your side. Also, you'll be working with a network of care professionals. These may include your health team, social workers and psychologists.
Estate Planning and Settlement
To continue, Estate planning is the process of deciding who receives your property after you die. Also, it decides who'll be in charge of ensuring your final wishes are carried out. Lastly, it includes disability planning, as discussed above, as well as planning to:
- avoid probate,
- minimize estate taxes,
- and Protect your beneficiaries.
Moreover, a comprehensive estate plan might include: the last will, a durable power of attorney, an advance medical directive, and, if needed, a revocable living trust. A living trust allows you to appoint someone else to make decisions about assets held in your trust.
Probate is the court-supervised process for settling a deceased person's estate. It may or may not be necessary, depending on how your assets are titled at the time of your death. If you have a revocable living trust, the estate may be settled without the supervision of a probate court.2
Types of Elder Law
Major areas of elder law include:
- Disability and special needs planning
- Long-term care planning
- Estate planning and settlement
- Guardianship or conservatorship
- Elder abuse.
No matter what your specific needs may be, Weatherby & Associates, PC can help. We specialize in asset protection and have years of experience helping our clients create solid plans. Also, we're conveniently located and easy to reach. So, if you're looking for an asset protection lawyer in CT, we've got you covered.
Contact us today at 860-769-6938 to schedule a complimentary consultation! We'll be happy to answer any questions and help you get started on the path to asset protection.
