Elder Law Lawyers Lancaster

Phone: (717) 207-7158

Many people who are approaching retirement age are concerned about how to make the most out of their years of hard work and how they can preserve wealth for their own benefit and for future generations. Other clients want to ensure their wishes are known regarding future health care treatment, potential mental incapacity, life-sustaining measures, and passing inheritance to loved ones.

Regardless of your health, it is important to discuss estate planning and other elder law issues with your family and with an experienced elder law attorney. Even if your family knows your wishes, they will have no legal authority to act on your behalf unless proper estate planning has been completed.

Our attorneys at Clymer, Musser & Conrad, P.C. are available to answer your questions about estate planning, retirement planning, incapacity planning, and other elder law matters.

Our elder law services are tailored to meet all of our clients' needs, including:

• Estate planning: Creating a last will and testament is one method to convey your wishes for property distribution to your family and friends. However, what many people do not realize is that if you die without a will or other estate planning instrument, the state will determine how your assets will be distributed(according to intestate statutes). Whether your goals involve asset protection, minimizing taxes, shielding assets for minor children, or other goals, we can tailor a plan that meets the needs of you and your family. We use a combination of wills, trusts, and other instruments to create a comprehensive estate plan.
• Incapacity planning: Planning for the "what if's" in life is an important part of estate planning. If you are diagnosed with an illness or disease that renders you physically or mentally incapable of caring for yourself, who will manage your finances and make sure your bills are paid? Who will communicate your wishes regarding your health care needs? Important documents drafted now, such as a power of attorney, medical power of attorney, or other advanced directives, can make a significant difference later It will save your family expenses and the hassle of going to court to obtain a guardianship or conservatorship when either are necessary. In addition, a living will can be used to communicate your wishes regarding life-sustaining measures and other important declarations.
• Medicaid/Medicare planning: Without Medicare or Medicaid, a retirement home, nursing home, or assisted living facility can quickly deplete a lifetime of assets. Proactive planning is necessary to meet the requirements for Medicaid or Medicare. We discuss how to take advantage of trusts, gift exemptions, and other techniques that can be used in Medicaid or Medicare planning. Early planning is essential. Even when proper planning is completed, Medicare/Medicaid rules state that asset transfers made within three years of the application or other asset preservation techniques within five years of the application will essentially have been ineffective and there will be a spend down for such assets. Therefore, it is important to contact a lawyer early to ensure your planning is effective.

Contact our Pennsylvania Elder Law Attorneys

For further explanation of our elder law and estate planning services or to discuss your particular needs with a skilled and caring attorney at our law firm, contact us online or by calling (717) 207-7158 (Lancaster area) or (717) 786-0500 (Quarryville area).

Fulfilling Our Calling as Christian Attorneys by Providing Superior Legal Services Grounded on Our Belief That We Should Seek Justice for Our Clients