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• Medicaid Asset Preservation. We work with each client to identify their top needs and concerns, such as minimizing Medicaid penalties, speeding up their eligibility for Medicaid, or preserving assets. Using our extensive knowledge of the Medicaid rules and various legal strategies, we’re often able to restructure assets in a way that maximizes exemptions and minimizes penalties. For clients who are doing advance planning (i.e., needing Medicaid in 5 years or more), we’re usually able to preserve all their assets. For clients in crisis situations (i.e., needing Medicaid benefits immediately), we’re usually able to preserve half of their assets.

• Life Care Planning. Our life care planning team works to simplify the legal complications for clients and help them plan ahead for their aging needs. Life Care Planning is a holistic, elder-centered approach that utilizes an Elder Care Coordinator (ECC) to help families navigate long-term care decisions and avoid pitfalls. In conjunction with a thorough legal plan, each ECC guides clients through transitions necessitated by aging and illness.

  We can help address various needs beyond your legal documents:

  • We manage risk and can plan for the various options as you age

  • Assistance with finding, paying for, and getting good long term care as it is needed

  • Facility and hospital visits and check-ins

  • Driving limits and options

  • Addressing caregiver burnout

  • Isolation and limited contact with family members or family members that live far away

  • Addressing cognitive declines

  • Planning that addresses needs ranging from independent living at home, living at home with assistance, retirement community living, assisted living, to nursing home care

  • Navigating public benefit options such as Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran’s compensation, Aid and Attendance, Respite Care Vouchers, and Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers

  • Updating estate planning documents to reduce the burden on agents and trustees

  • Protecting vulnerable adults and minimizing exploitation risks

  • Preserving real estate

  • Minimizing conflict amongst heirs

• Probate Avoidance. The probate process can be lengthy, expensive, and emotional. As part of the estate planning process at LawyerLisa, we can consider different probate avoidance techniques and if it matches the clients’ goals, develop a comprehensive plan that works for their financial situation so that their family members may avoid having to go through the probate process. Examples of some probate avoidance techniques are: joint tenants with the right of survivorship or life estate deeds, use of LLCs or living trusts, and transferring the title to smaller assets that would normally pass through probate so they will instead pass non-probate.

  If the client owns real estate in multiple counties or states, it may be necessary to file probate in each of those locations. In order to avoid having to file multiple ancillary estates in every place real estate is owned, we can develop a plan that avoids the time and expense of these multiple court filings.

  Probate avoidance is not the solution for everyone. Depending on the specific situation, it may be better to set up an alternate plan. If the client is considering probate avoidance, we will discuss the benefits and detriments of this at the estate planning consultation.

• Long Term Care Planning. We offer advice on asset preservation, inheritance planning, navigating benefits, and receiving all that the client is entitled to. We work with financial advisers and other professionals to develop comprehensive plans that work for the clients’ specific situation. We assist with nursing home and care facility accommodations, document signings and family disputes. Comprehensive planning allows us to develop a unique plan that works for the specific situation, versus just preparing a "simple will" that could likely omit many important issues from being addressed. We also address social security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, senior housing choices, and a variety of other elder law issues.

• Complex Estate Planning. Clients have unique needs that may require creative solutions. Our team has the experience and resources to design plans that solve complex issues.

• Tax Efficiency. Our plans are designed with tax consequences in mind. Asset titling instructions integrate tax advantages strategies for our clients.

We are ready to help your clients. We can schedule an in-person, video-based, or telephone consultation for the clients’ convenience. Give us a call or send us a message.

803.563.5163 Main Line

864.990.0347 Upstate SC

Meet the rest of the LawyerLisa team here.