The job of an elder law attorney is obviously to help elderly people who are concerned about end-of-life issues, incapacity, and the legacy that they will leave to loved ones when they pass away. Worries about covering the costs of nursing home care and dealing with the possibility of illness naturally become more pronounced as you get older because there is a greater risk of developing life-threatening conditions. An elder law attorney at The Law Offices of James A. Miller, P.C. helps seniors to be prepared for whatever life brings.
But what about younger people? Is there a minimum age at which you can benefit from the services that an experienced attorney can provide to you?
Is There a Minimum Age to Get Help from an Elder Law Attorney?
Attorneys in the field of elder law do not just provide legal advice to senior citizens. The issues that affect older people, which attorneys in this field can help with, actually could impact anyone of any age.
You never know if an illness or an injury could strike that leaves you unable to communicate your wishes for medical care. This could happen when you are young, just like it could when you are older. You also never know if something could happen to you when you are young that makes it impossible for you to live by yourself or that causes your death.
If you are not prepared for illness, injury, or passing away because you are young and you think these things cannot happen to you, you are actually putting yourself and your loved ones in a really dangerous position. If the worst happens and you haven’t talked to an elder law attorney already so there are plans in place, a number of undesirable outcomes could occur.
If you are in dire need of medical care and you cannot communicate your preferences, your family could be forced to make tough choices about allowing or withholding care without knowing what your wishes would have been. Court action could be needed to determine who makes the decision if there is disagreement over who should be in charge of medical choices.
If you become incapacitated and cannot live independently or manage your assets, a number of problems can arise in these circumstances as well, if you haven’t made advanced plans. Your loved ones could be forced to go to court so a guardian could be named to manage your affairs and act on your behalf. Paying for nursing home care or home care could become a major burden on your family’s finances.
If you pass away without a plan, your legacy could be left up to fate. Your estate assets could be lost due to costly estate tax if your estate is too large and you haven’t made plans to protect your wealth. Intestacy law could determine who inherits whatever assets you have left behind.
You don’t want any of these outcomes to become you reality, so you should talk with an elder law attorney even if you are young. In fact, talking with an attorney when you’re young could be even more important than talking to a lawyer when you are older. The reason: because you must make plans for the care of minor children.
If you are young and have kids who are depending upon you, it is up to you to talk with an elder law attorney about how you can ensure they are physically cared for and financially provided for if you become unable to raise them into adulthood due to illness, injury, or untimely death.
Because it is so important to get legal advice when you are young, you shouldn’t assume you are not old enough to talk with an elder law attorney. If you are at least 18, you are old enough to get help from an attorney if you want to take care of your family and future.
Getting Help from A Worcester Elder Law Attorney
An elder law attorney at The Law Offices of James A. Miller, P.C. can provide help to clients of all ages. We assist you with using tools like powers of attorney, trusts, a last will and testament, and other tools to prepare for uncertainties in the future. We also provide help with things like retirement planning and asset protection at all phases of life.
To find out more about how our legal team can assist you, download a free estate planning worksheet. You can also give us a call at 508-799-8885 or contact us online to talk with a Worcester elder law and estate planning lawyer about the services our firm provides.