The Law Offices of James A. Miller is a trusted Worcester, MA elder law and estate planning firm. Our legal team is committed to providing full-service advice on financial matters, asset protection, end of life issues, and legacy issues. Clients throughout Worcester trust us to offer affordable and comprehensive legal advice and we take our responsibility to every client seriously.
Representing Clients in Worcester, MA
Finding a local attorney is important as your lawyer can understand the court systems, the services available to seniors, and the state-specific laws affecting you. Within Worcester, 11.7 percent of the population is over the age of 65. Seniors, especially, need elder law and estate planning services to cope with the effects of aging.
Worcester, which is the second-largest city in New England after Boston, also has a substantial population of younger people. There are more than 181,045 people who live in Worcester, and the median age is 33.4 years. Our legal team provides representation to people at all ages within the Worcester area.
Seniors in Worcester
Seniors living in and around Worcester often begin to experience financial and legal issues as a result of the aging process. One of the biggest issues many seniors are concerned about is what will happen if they must go into a nursing home.
Health News reports there are 55 nursing homes in the Worcester, MA. Of these facilities, 10 receive a five star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Seniors should carefully research nursing homes to make sure the home they select can provide an acceptable quality of care and has good ratings.
Seniors and their families also need assistance in reviewing nursing home admission paperwork in order to make sure they do not waive any of their rights without being aware of it. Nursing homes are increasingly including arbitration agreements in which residents and families give up the right to sue if abuse occurs. When such an agreement is signed, an attorney will need to provide assistance in pursuing compensation for nursing home abuse using the arbitration process.
The Law Offices of James A. Miller understands the steps involved in choosing a nursing home, reviewing paperwork, and responding to abuse. Many clients in Worcester have trusted us with these important legal issues.
Estate Planning and Elder Law Services in Worcester
Worcester, MA estate planning and elder law attorneys provide many different kinds of services to seniors. Not only can we address the issues that arise when it comes to nursing home care, but we also help with financial planning, incapacity planning, asset protection, and legacy planning.
Financial planning and asset protection involve determining the amount of money you require, finding ways to save and achieve your goals, and protecting your nest egg. From advice on choosing the right types of tax-advantaged retirement accounts to naming someone who will monitor your investments if incapacity makes you unable to do so, we can help you to grow your wealth and keep it safe.
Asset protection is an important part of incapacity planning, but you also need to address what will happen if you must go into a nursing home and want kinds of medical care you want to receive in an emergency. Our legal team can help with these issues and many more. We provide you with assistance in getting Medicaid benefits without spending down assets; in creating advanced directives for healthcare; and in naming someone as your healthcare proxy so decisions on medical services can be made by someone you trust.
Finally, legacy planning and inheritance planning are key steps you need to take to control how you will be remember and to make sure heirs are cared for. You want to protect your nest egg so you can leave it as a legacy and you want to take steps to avoid estate taxes or losses by irresponsible heirs. Our Worcester, MA legacy planning lawyers can help you to determine if your heirs have any special issues which require you to take advanced steps to protect them, such as the creation of a spendthrift trust or special needs trust.
Finally, legacy planning and inheritance planning are key steps you need to take to control how you will be remember and to make sure heirs are cared for. You want to protect your nest egg so you can leave it as a legacy and you want to take steps to avoid estate taxes or losses by irresponsible heirs. Our Worcester, MA legacy planning lawyers can help you to determine if your heirs have any special issues which require you to take advanced steps to protect them, such as the creation of a spendthrift trust or special needs trust.
Life is full of uncertainty, but many clients throughout Worcester have achieved peace of mind and made solid plans for the future with our help. Give us a call today to find out more about how our services can benefit you.
Courts in Worcester Addressing Estate Issues
The Law Offices of James A. Miller works to help you avoid unnecessary court proceedings by creating a comprehensive estate plan. Depending upon your situation, your goal may involve avoiding probate, avoiding guardianship proceedings, and helping to ensure your family never ends up fighting in court over medical choices or distribution of assets.
There are, however, some estate planning and elder law matters which must be handled in court. Probate, guardianship proceedings, and claims that an executor or trustee have failed to fulfill their duties are all matters which are resolved in courtrooms. For those in Worcester, MA, the most likely court where estate and elder law issues will be heard is the Worcester Probate and Family Court.
The Worcester Probate and Family Court is located at 225 Main Street; Worcester, MA 01608. The telephone number for the court is 508-831-2200. The court operates between 8:30 and 4:30 PM on Monday through Friday and is closed weekends and holidays.
If you have any legal matters before the court, it is important you understand the rules for court proceedings and that you understand your obligations. A Worcester estate planning and elder law attorney at the Law Offices of James A. Miller can help you throughout every phase of your interaction with the court system. From filing papers to making arguments on your behalf, our attorneys want to make resolving your legal issues simple by handling the complex legal matters for you.
How a Worcester Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Can Help
The Law Offices of James A. Miller is trusted by clients throughout Worcester, MA, and surrounding areas because of our long track record of providing knowledgeable advice and professional legal services to people of all ages. When you have concerns about your autonomy, your medical care, your assets, your financial security, or the protection of your family members, we will give you the legal tools you need to resolve your issues. Give us a call as soon as possible to get your plan for the future underway so you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you have taken care of everything.
