Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law, located at 14 W Valerio St, #A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, addresses the concerning issue of conservatorship abuse targeting vulnerable seniors. Founded by Julianna Malis, the firm explains how the conservatorship process designed to protect seniors unable to manage their affairs is increasingly exploited by predators for personal gain. While courts often appoint family members as conservators, disputes or unavailable relatives can lead to the appointment of public guardians who, in theory, should be neutral parties dedicated to the ward’s well-being. Unfortunately, inadequate monitoring in many states enables unscrupulous guardians to exploit their wards, controlling where they live, blocking family visits, selling property, and charging fees from the ward’s assets. This form of elder abuse is particularly prevalent in retirement destinations like Santa Barbara. The firm offers preventative strategies using powers of attorney and other tools to avoid guardianship exploitation. For personalized guidance on protecting vulnerable seniors, contact them at 805-946-1550.
Attorney Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter practices at Lewis Kannegieter Law, Ltd. located at 107 Cedar Street, Suite 3, Monticello, MN 55362. The firm specializes in demystifying complex Medical Assistance concepts, including the important term “community spouse” – the husband or wife of a Medical Assistance applicant who continues living in the community rather than in long-term care. This distinction is crucial as Medical Assistance offers specific protections to prevent impoverishment of the community spouse. The firm explains key provisions including the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA), which allows the community spouse to retain a certain amount of combined assets without affecting eligibility, and the Monthly Income Allowance, which allocates some of the institutionalized spouse’s income to support the community spouse’s living expenses. Through proper planning, the firm helps ensure the community spouse maintains a comfortable standard of living while securing quality care for the institutionalized spouse and preserving family assets. For guidance on Medical Assistance planning and community spouse rules, contact them at 763-244-2949.
Breidenbach Associates Law Offices, LLC at 2158 Sunnyside Ave, Pottstown, PA 19464 (610-327-9090) stands out for their dedicated elder law advocacy and superior customer service. These gentle, supportive legal professionals have safeguarded seniors’ rights for many years, earning recognition as Pottstown’s most praised elder law office. They ensure arrangements are implemented according to clients’ wishes while protecting their interests and wellbeing through appropriate legislation. The firm takes the confusion out of document preparation and filing, protecting assets as planned while preparing for changing future needs. Their comprehensive elder law services include estate planning, power of attorney, will drafting, addressing abuse and neglect, long-term care planning, guardianship, healthcare arrangements, nursing home resident rights, advance directives, assisted living guidance, and more. By removing the guesswork from future planning, clients can rest easier knowing they’re prepared for virtually any circumstance. The firm offers free, no-obligation consultations with their elder law practitioners to discuss affordable rates and demonstrate their exceptional attention to detail, respect, and client care that defines their practice.
Capita Law operates from offices in both Pennsylvania (570-832-7498) and New Jersey (973-600-0261), providing comprehensive elder law services to aging Americans in both states. Their attorneys help seniors legally navigate issues that arise simply because of age, offering personalized guidance through challenging decisions. The firm’s elder law services encompass estate planning, long-term care planning, wills and trusts, asset protection, powers of attorney, probate, and special needs planning. They emphasize that elder law planning, while mentally, emotionally, and financially challenging, provides peace of mind by protecting loved ones, preserving independence, and preparing for the future. Their attorneys assist with estate and trust administration, implementing comprehensive estate plans including last wills and testaments, powers of attorney, health care directives, trusts, and living wills. Particularly focused on long-term care planning, they help clients protect hard-earned assets from the devastating expenses of home care, assisted living, or nursing home stays through strategic asset protection planning.
Banahan & Haas specializes in elder law services for clients throughout DuPage and Kane Counties from offices in Geneva and Naperville, Illinois. With over 40 years of combined experience, their attorneys address the specific needs of the aging population, handling elder law matters ranging from end-of-life planning and asset preservation to Medicaid planning and trusts and estates issues. The firm recognizes that with increased longevity comes a heightened focus on quality of life concerns requiring careful planning. They acknowledge the challenges that come with aging, including health conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia, and are committed to helping clients navigate complex legal matters with compassion. The attorneys assist with establishing healthcare directives, powers of attorney, special needs trusts, OBRA and Medicaid-compliant trusts and annuities, comprehensive Medicaid planning, and care plans for adults with disabilities. Their goal is to help clients control their future while providing peace of mind to loved ones. Contact them at 630-868-3910 for a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Strickler Catlin LLC practices from 3825 Iris Ave., Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301, providing elder law services with decades of expertise. The firm helps clients navigate the emotional, physical, and financial complexities of aging, offering guidance through difficult decisions while reducing confusion. Their elder law attorneys in Boulder assist with specialized trusts for estate planning, guardianship proceedings, conservatorship matters, advance directives, and Medicaid eligibility applications. They emphasize proactive planning for clients and their families, ensuring that plans reflect individual values, protect assets, and maintain dignity throughout the aging process. Strickler Catlin’s comprehensive approach includes elder abuse protection, helping shield seniors from exploitation and mistreatment through proper legal counsel and planning. The firm provides sound advice regarding caring and reliable options for elder care, from fiduciary services to asset protection strategies. Clients seeking assistance with elder law matters can contact the firm at (303) 443-6690 to schedule a consultation with an attorney who will compassionately guide them through available options.
Daly Law Offices at 4480 William Penn Hwy, Suite 200, Easton, PA 18045 provides comprehensive elder law services to Bethlehem seniors facing retirement’s complex legal challenges. Attorney Joshua N. Daly, with over 15 years of experience and membership in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, helps clients navigate estate planning, guardianship proceedings, Medicaid planning, and financial representation. His estate planning services create comprehensive plans with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives that reflect clients’ values while reducing family friction. The firm’s Medicaid planning expertise helps clients qualify for benefits that cover nursing home costs exceeding $12,000 monthly in Pennsylvania, protecting life savings through legal asset protection strategies. For seniors without advance planning documents who become incapacitated, Attorney Daly assists families with guardianship proceedings, helping them navigate the complex legal process of obtaining decision-making authority. The firm also assists with financial challenges involving government benefit programs, including Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, and disability benefits. For a free consultation, call (484) 293-1885.
Attorney Anthony J. Enea, managing member of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, NY, shares critical gifting insights for seniors considering significant monetary or property transfers to loved ones. With the federal estate and gift tax exemption potentially reducing from $12.06 million to $6 million by January 2026, his guidance helps high-net-worth individuals understand tax implications of substantial gifts. Enea explains that while individuals can gift up to $16,000 per recipient annually without tax consequences ($17,000 in 2023), larger gifts utilize portions of the lifetime exemption rather than triggering immediate taxes. He advises that irrevocable trusts often provide wiser gifting mechanisms than outright transfers, particularly when recipients might struggle with financial management. As past president of the Westchester County Bar Association and chair of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, Enea brings specialized expertise in wills, trusts, Medicaid planning, guardianships, and special needs planning to help seniors protect their assets while supporting loved ones.
Josie Mayfield Hudson practices elder law from her office at 1025 Walnut St, Vicksburg, MS 39183, providing specialized legal services to seniors and their families throughout Warren County. As a leading elder law attorney in Vicksburg, Hudson focuses on addressing the unique challenges facing older adults as they navigate complex financial and healthcare decisions. Her practice encompasses essential services including Medicaid planning to protect assets while qualifying for long-term care benefits, guardianship proceedings for incapacitated seniors, estate planning tailored to address elder-specific concerns, advance healthcare directives ensuring medical wishes are respected, and powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions. Hudson guides clients through Veterans benefits applications, helping aging veterans access Aid and Attendance pension benefits to offset care costs. With nursing home expenses in Mississippi averaging over $80,000 annually, she develops strategic plans to shield clients’ hard-earned assets from being depleted by healthcare expenses. Her approach combines legal expertise with compassionate counsel, recognizing the sensitive nature of elder law matters.
From their office at 1508 NE 96th Street, Suite D, Liberty, Missouri 64068, Northland Elder Law delivers specialized elder law services throughout St. Joseph and Buchanan County. Unlike general practice firms, they focus exclusively on Medicaid Asset Protection and Estate Planning to protect clients’ legacies and financial resources. With 34 years of legal experience, Attorney Kara Burgess has devoted the last 15 years solely to elder law after earning degrees from Northwest Missouri State University and UMKC. Associate Attorney Cassie Rocha brings additional expertise from her background as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, where she litigated 27 criminal and civil trials and successfully argued before the Missouri Court of Appeals. The firm offers flexible appointment options, including in-office visits, telephone consultations, video appointments, and electronic document handling. Their comprehensive services include Medicaid planning, nursing home planning, asset protection, estate planning with wills and trusts, and probate administration. Call (816) 802-6767 to schedule an appointment.
