Navigating Legal Services for the Elderly: What to Expect

As we age, legal matters become increasingly important. Whether it is estate planning or long-term care planning, legal services for seniors can offer complicated challenges. 

Our talented and dedicated Florida elder law attorneys at Hoyt & Bryan are ready to work with you to give you confidence and peace of mind.

What is ‘Elder Law’? 

Elder law does not necessarily have a specific legal definition. It is more so defined by the people we serve – seniors or elders. This area of the law can encompass all the legal services for mature individuals, such as estate planning, disability planning, long-term care planning, and more. 

What Legal Services Can an Elder Law Firm Assist With? 

The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan are here to help with all legal services for seniors.  We have three attorneys on our team who are recognized by the Florida Bar as Board Certified Specialists in the area of Elder Law.  Here are examples of various ways we have assisted our  clients and their families: 

Estate Planning

Of course, a key area of elder law and the legal services we provide encompasses all aspects of estate planning. Estate planning ensures that your wishes are met after you are incapacitated or have passed away. We say, “It allows you to give what you have, to whom you want when you want, and the way you want.”  This can include creating wills and trusts, answering questions about the probate process, establishing a pre-need or current guardian, creating a long-term care plan for future Medicaid or VA benefits, estate tax planning, setting up a pet trust, planning for charitable donations, and more. Working with an experienced elder law attorney ensures that all your directives are legally valid and contain the proper information necessary to protect your interests. 

Medicaid Planning and Applications

Medicaid is a health care program designed to support low-income individuals. Florida’s Medicaid can pay for nursing home services, assisted living facilities, as well as home-based care. There are specific eligibility requirements that Florida seniors have to meet to be eligible for certain services under Medicaid. Once you have met those eligibility criteria, you then have to submit an application to receive Medicaid. This can be a complicated process, made easier by working with lawyers who have done it successfully time and time again. 

Veterans Benefits

There are numerous benefits for qualifying veterans. These benefits can be especially helpful to senior individuals and their spouses in need of specific care. For example, veterans’ benefits apply to education, health care, home loans, property taxes, pensions, insurance, motor vehicle licensing, recreational discounts, employment services, and more. With so many benefits at your disposal and different application processes for each, working with an elder law attorney with experience in veterans benefits is extremely beneficial.

Hoyt & Bryan Can Help with Elderly Legal Services. 

Our experienced Florida elder law lawyers will provide advice that you can trust from people you like. We have been the leading estate planning and elder law firm in Central Florida for over 20 years. Contact us today at (407) 977-8080 to learn more about how we can help with any of your elder law needs.