Law Office of Susan A.Principato

An elder law attorney ensures that you get the proper amount of benefits as you reach the retirement age. The longer you wait to seek an attorney help, the more you run the risk of your money not being protected.

If you have elderly parents in your home rather than in a nursing home, they will still be eligible for Medicaid as long as they have no more than $2,000 in countable assets.

Medicaid is a needs-based federal program intended to help impoverished Americans with nursing home care and medical expenses. Medicaid planning is legal and we can work to protect your assets within the bounds of the law.

Did you know that there were around 33.5 million people 65 years of age or older in 1995, representing 12.8% of the population? This is an increase of 2.3 million, or 7%, since 1990. The older population will continue to grow and laws pertaining to this age group continue to evolve.

Medicare and Medicaid are two different programs. While Medicare plays an important role in providing the elderly with health insurance, it does not pay for ongoing custodial care. For that assistance, many turn to Medicaid.

Social Security benefits pull millions of elderly Americans out of poverty. Without them, about 4 in 10 Americans aged 65 and older would have incomes below the poverty line.

If you notice that you or your spouse is less able to take care of financial issues, it can help to contact one of our professionals. We can help you come up with a long-term plan to handle your finances, even if you cannot do so yourself.

Living wills, which allow people to control their end-of-life medical treatment, are a comparatively new estate planning mechanism. Do you know that California became the first state to allow living wills in September 1976?

It's not only important to make plans in the event you die, but to share that crucial information with your spouse, children or closest relatives. Making a decision for a spouse or parent who dies can be difficult without prior guidance and advice.

There can be several ways to avoid probate depending on your personal situation and the state laws. Some people set up a trust, while others just name beneficiaries. An elder law attorney can help you understand rules in your jurisdiction.

Did you know that since 1965, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation enabling grandparents to petition the courts for visitation rights with their grandchildren? This situation may be necessary following a divorce.

What is an estate plan? The estate plan shows how you will pay your bills, how you want to pay for your medical expenses, and who has the power of attorney to manage your accounts.

Do you know that you can collect on your late ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits if you are at least 60, the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you didn’t remarry before age 60?

While many people already know about nursing homes, there are a variety of other living arrangements available today for the elderly. If you aren’t sure which type of housing transition is most appropriate for you, we may be able to provide guidance.

When it comes to elder law, we are well versed in the legal issues that impact elder clients. We will be able to help you in all aspects of planning for aging, illness, possible incapacity, and death.

It’s important to remember that someone must be responsible for an elderly individual even if they haven’t put together a durable power of attorney. This is often when a judge will appoint someone to become their legal guardian.

Your estate planning attorney will help you with issues that may impact the way in which you create your estate plan, such as Medicaid and Medicare; powers of attorney; reverse mortgages; intestacy; living wills, health care proxies, and do not resuscitate orders; various trusts; and guardianship, to name just some.

As your parents get older, you may worry about whether they’re still able to make important medical and financial decisions. In some cases, you may find it necessary to obtain guardianship over them so that you can legally handle their affairs.