Elder Law Attorney Tampa Florida | The field of elder law encompasses many areas of practice. Therefore, when seniors and their families need assistance, it’s important to think through everything needed. Some of these practice areas overlap, but some may not.
Here is a partial list of the types of assistance an elder law attorney can provide:
- Medicaid assistance;
- Preserving or transferring assets before entering an assisted living facility or nursing home;
- Estate planning and probate avoidance;
- Probate, formal administrations;
- Veterans Affairs benefits, pensions;
- Setting up a will or trust;
- Durable power of attorney and healthcare surrogate;
- Social security and disability claims;
- Retirement benefits;
- Medicare claims;
- Guardianships;
- Long-term care financial assistance;
- Elder abuse and elder fraud;
Who Should I Hire?
Take a look at your specific needs. For example, you need surgery. Have you named a healthcare surrogate to make medical decisions when, or if, you can’t? Do you have a will or durable power of attorney in place? An elder law attorney who does estate planning can assist with those immediate needs and advise on what you might want to consider for down the road. Clarify your needs, then search for elder law attorneys whose firms work in those areas, and ones that might overlap. Visit their websites to see how long they have been working in these areas. This will give you an idea of their experience level. Read the reviews; sometimes you might read about a case similar to yours and learn about the process, or how quickly the issue was resolved. Ask for recommendations from staff at facilities, if you are involved with one.
Next, prepare a list of questions for the elder law attorney or the firm’s staff.
- How long have you been practicing?
- Do you have special accreditations in certain areas, such as working on VA cases or Medicaid cases?
- How much of your practice is devoted to elder law?
- Is there a cost for a consultation? And how long is the meeting?
- How long does it take to get on the attorney’s schedule?
- What items/papers might I need for that consultation?
Moving Forward
During your consultation, ask about the process for moving forward once you decide on the attorney you will hire. How is the attorney paid and when? Will there be a retainer that puts the agreement for services in writing? How quickly can we get started? How long might it take to reach a resolution? What other information will be required of me?
Michelangelo Mortellaro, Esq., has been serving seniors and their families in the Tampa Bay area for more than a decade. Michelangelo is VA accredited, assisting veterans and surviving spouses with the Aid and Attendance benefit. He also serves clients needing asset protection for Medicaid, estate planning and probate. There is never a fee for the hour-long initial consultation. You don’t even have to come into the office. Michelangelo can consult with you via telephone, and he is happy to conference in any other family members in other locations. We look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.
