Joe Mathis of Mathis Law at 7226 Lee Deforest Drive, Suite 207 in Columbia, MD 21046 specializes in elder law planning that addresses various needs individuals have as they age and become concerned about disabilities like Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, strokes, and other debilitating conditions with significant financial impacts. With Maryland nursing home care costs ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 monthly, the firm offers planning options to protect assets from these potential expenses, including obtaining Medical Assistance (Medicaid) coverage. Pre-planning strategies include making gifts, establishing irrevocable trusts, or specific real estate titling, ideally completed five years before needing Medicaid benefits to avoid penalty periods. For those already needing immediate nursing home care, the firm offers planning options that may enable married couples to keep almost all assets for the at-home spouse or help single individuals protect nearly half their assets for loved ones. As a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Joe Mathis frequently handles various aspects of elder law planning from pre-planning discussions to managing the Medicaid application process.
Elder Law Attorneys
Beth A. Prather, P.A., located at 12685 New Brittany Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, specializes in elder law, assisting families in planning for and navigating aging-related issues. The firm has recently joined with Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP but continues to provide robust services to clients and the local community. Attorney Beth A. Prather is accredited with the Veterans Administration and belongs to numerous professional organizations including LCPLFA, NAELA, AFELA, the Florida and Lee County Bar Associations, and the Florida State Guardianship Association. The firm offers comprehensive elder law services including general estate planning, Medicaid planning and asset protection, probate and trust administration, veterans benefits, guardianship, wills and trusts, durable power of attorney arrangements, living wills and health care surrogates, special needs trusts, and life care planning. Their approach emphasizes finding solutions through difficult circumstances, helping clients protect their assets while ensuring proper care. Beth Prather received her Juris Doctorate from University of Maine School of Law (Cum Laude) and is board certified in elder law by the Florida Bar. For consultations, call 239-208-3050.
The McLean County Bar Association provides a directory of elder law attorneys serving the central Illinois area, including Bloomington, Eureka, Mackinaw, and Hudson. These legal professionals assist seniors facing nursing home neglect issues involving bedsores, medication errors, falls resulting in injuries, and malnutrition from inadequate care. Listed attorneys like William DeCardy, Darrell Dies, Brian Galloway, and Patrick McGrath specialize in elder abuse cases, guardianship proceedings, and Medicaid planning strategies. The association connects seniors with lawyers experienced in addressing financial exploitation, physical mistreatment, and violations of resident rights in care facilities. These attorneys help clients navigate the complex requirements of long-term care planning while protecting assets from nursing home costs. Their expertise includes creating healthcare directives, establishing powers of attorney, and implementing estate planning techniques that safeguard against improper restraint usage, delayed medical treatment, and chemical sedation in institutional settings. The directory helps seniors find representation for cases involving wandering incidents, poor hygiene conditions, and inadequate staffing consequences in nursing facilities.
Nicki Applefield Engel practices at Johnston Allison Hord located at 1065 East Morehead Street in Charlotte, North Carolina as an experienced elder and special needs law attorney with over 14 years of advocacy for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Her practice focuses on estate and special needs planning, asset preservation, public benefits, long-term care planning, guardianships, and probate and trust administration. As a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), past president and current board member of the North Carolina Chapter, and former Chair of the Elder and Special Needs Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, Nicki brings substantial expertise to her clients. She holds certification as an Elder and Special Needs Law Specialist from the North Carolina State Board of Legal Specialization and as a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. Her approach combines compassion, precision, and diligence, crafting creative solutions that provide peace of mind for clients navigating the legal issues involved in the cycle of life, helping them protect loved ones and prepare for uncertain futures.
www.jahlaw.com/people/nicki-applefield-engel-elder-law-attorney-c…
LifePlan Legal AZ serves clients in Gilbert, Queen Creek, and surrounding areas from their offices in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona, specializing in Special Needs Trusts and Estate Planning for families with disabled loved ones. The firm helps parents coordinate legal, financial, and special care needs for their children with disabilities, both for present concerns and future planning when parents are no longer able to advocate for them. They offer guidance on Support Trusts for basic necessities and Special Needs Trusts that maintain eligibility for government assistance programs like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. LifePlan Legal AZ distinguishes between Third-Party Special Needs Trusts created using parents’ assets through estate plans and Self-Settled Special Needs Trusts established using the child’s assets, often from personal injury settlements. Their attorneys help clients integrate these trusts as standalone vehicles funded by life insurance or as sub-trusts within existing living trusts. The firm provides access to extensive resources including Social Security information, trustee handbooks, and specialized planning tools like the Special Needs Map for calculating future financial requirements. Call (602) 932-3187 for a free strategy session.
McLane Middleton’s Elder Law Practice Group in New Hampshire and Massachusetts provides experienced assistance to individuals and families facing issues related to aging, incapacity, and illness. Their attorneys offer thoughtful advice in areas such as access to long-term care services, public benefits, special needs planning, estate planning including healthcare and financial decision-making, protection from abuse, and fiduciary services. The team guides clients through complex Medicaid regulations and implements plans to assist with qualifying for Medicaid long-term care while offering the unique advantage of sophisticated estate, gift, and income tax planning advice. They prepare special needs trusts to enhance quality of life while maintaining eligibility for federal and state government benefits. Recognizing that elder law often involves assisting people requiring special care, attention, and protection, their attorneys maintain high professional standards and ethics. The practice group includes active members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire chapters. For additional information, contact Whitney Gagnon, practice group chair.
The Law Office of Melanie George Smith, LLC, based in Newark, Delaware, provides elder law services with a focus on personalized care and advocacy. Attorney Melanie Smith, described as “the lawyer-mom,” understands that not every problem requires litigation but sometimes clients need an advocate looking out for their or their loved ones’ best interests. The firm offers comprehensive elder law services, recognizing that people are living longer, creating extended periods where older loved ones need assistance. Their services include overseeing the care and well-being of elderly clients, monitoring guardians and care organizations, helping with guardianship matters, and assisting with Medicaid applications, wills, living wills, and powers of attorney. They acknowledge the challenges of parenting children with special needs, noting that when a child turns 18, legal paperwork becomes necessary for parents to continue helping with basics like doctor consultations. The firm helps determine what legal documentation best meets each family’s needs, ensuring loved ones can continue receiving necessary assistance. Their approach combines legal knowledge with strong advocacy and genuine care, focusing on solving problems and meeting client needs rather than automatically pursuing litigation.
Margaret M. Mahon, Esq., LLC operates from 211 Broad Street, Suite 203, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701, offering comprehensive elder law services to Monmouth County residents. As we age, our legal concerns change, and Margaret’s practice addresses these shifting needs through powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and Medicaid planning. The firm takes a personalized approach, taking time to understand each client’s specific situation and creating customized solutions that protect their legal interests. Their elder law services address the unique issues facing older adults, including preserving assets for loved ones and planning for future healthcare. They assist with powers of attorney to appoint trusted individuals for managing personal affairs should clients suffer physical or mental disability, helping families avoid the lengthy court process of appointing guardians. The firm also prepares advance healthcare directives to nominate medical decision-makers and provide instructions for care if clients become incapacitated. Additionally, they offer Medicaid planning strategies designed to achieve eligibility while preserving assets in anticipation of potential long-term care. For elder law assistance in Red Bank, contact Margaret at (732) 410-7915.
Charlotte C. Johnson at Elder Law of Arizona, located at 2020 S. McClintock Dr., Suite 107, Tempe, AZ 85282, takes a holistic approach to addressing the legal needs of elderly and disabled individuals. Her elder law practice focuses on crucial questions many face as they approach their golden years: Who will handle finances and medical decisions? Who will provide care? How can retirement savings be preserved? As an experienced elder law attorney, she helps establish support systems through estate planning and guardianship/conservatorship when necessary, while implementing financial and long-term care planning to preserve wealth and increase autonomy. The firm navigates complex government programs including Medicaid (ALTCS) and Veterans Aid & Attendance, dispelling common misconceptions that prevent people from accessing deserved care and services. Their expertise helps clients achieve approval on first application, avoid pitfalls that delay benefits, and explore options to preserve savings and protect property from State recovery. Whether planning in advance or at the time of need, Johnson helps evaluate options to afford quality care while preserving hard-earned assets. For consultation, call 602-358-8606.
Nassau County elder law attorney Seth Schlessel brings extensive experience to seniors throughout Long Island from his office at 34 Willis Avenue, Suite 300, Mineola, NY 11501. Schlessel Law, PLLC helps clients navigate the complexities of Medicaid planning for nursing home care, which costs approximately $145,000 annually in New York. The firm assists with qualifying for Medicaid, creating various trusts, drafting wills, and accessing Medicaid-related benefits, while also providing support with probate matters throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Attorney Schlessel’s practice includes asset protection, guardianship proceedings, and comprehensive estate planning with essential documents such as Last Wills and Testaments, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, and Advance Directives. His services extend to retirement planning, including optimizing Social Security benefits and other income sources to secure financial stability in the golden years. The firm emphasizes the importance of having a clear conversation about healthcare preferences and end-of-life wishes. Contact Schlessel Law at (516) 574-9630 for a consultation focused on protecting your future with compassion and expertise.