Estate Planning Probate Elder and Disability Real Estate

Practice Areas

Estate Planning

Estate Planning is an important planning process for everyone, regardless of what the person owns. It involves not only planning for the distribution of wealth at a person's death, but also such important matters as guardianship nomination for the person's minor child in the case of death or incapacity, and powers of attorney for medical and financial decisions in the event of incapacity. Planning for such events can help the person and his or her family avoid the expense and indignity of asking the Court to impose a guardianship or conservatorship on the person when he or she can no longer make their own decisions.

Our office offers a broad range of estate planning services, including estate planning for large estates involving various tax planning strategies to aid in minimizing estate taxes. We also offer planning for the financial support of a disabled person in such a way as to avoid interfering with Medicaid or other benefits the person may rely on through Special Needs Trusts.

Probate

Probate procedures are widely varied. In general they are legal proceedings addressing the care and placement of minors and vulnerable adult and management of their assets, as well as the administration and distribution of the assets of a deceased person. Such processes include probate administration, trust administration, will contests, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings for minors and adults, protective orders, mental health proceedings, enforcement proceedings for trusts and powers of attorney and appeals from decisions involving such administrative agencies as the Family Independence Agency and the Department of Community Health. Our office offers a full range of probate legal services.

Elder and Disability Law

Elder law is the practice of advising and counseling a person with regard to any legal matter that would be of concern relating to the aging process and it is closely related to disability law. The term "elder" may be somewhat of a misnomer, as these issues may be addressed at any age as the person looks forward and plans for the aging process. It includes such matters as estate planning, but also encompasses such issues as long term care insurance, health insurance and Medi-gap policies, Medicaid planning, nursing home, assisted living, home health services, Social Security and Medicare, exploitation and consumer scams, elder abuse and neglect, and senior housing. Many of these same issues are matters of concern to persons with disabilities. Additional matters may include Special Needs Trusts, Community Mental Health services and other governmental programs.

Real Estate

Our office offers legal assistance with residential real estate and co-operative housing sales. Services include review of purchase agreements and all documents involved in the sales process. In addition, our office offers closing services, sometimes referred to as escrow services, for co-op sales.

The information you receive at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. Copyright © 2002 by Jane A. Bassett. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement.