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16 Jan, 2025 by Patricia kowal
Emily Wilson became a total fit for my husband and me to complete our estate planning. She explained things clearly, was sensitive to our needs and her professionalism stellar. We also appreciated a flat fee for completing our documents and time spent with her in person and over the phone. No hidden fees. Grateful to have found her. Thank you, Emily.
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11 Jan, 2025 by Tanya keeble
I cannot say enough good things about working with Kathy Pauktert. She represented me in a State Farm car accident case, that went on for 6 years and was quite stressful. Every step of the way, I really felt that she was representing me fully, with no evidence of influence because it was a State Farm case, and she gave me excellent guidance but ensured that I made my own choices regarding next steps. She communicates very promptly, is kind, and gives an extremely persnalised experience. Her expertise was evident and I would recommend her (and do!) to folks going through similar cases. Knowing how competant she is, I would use this group for any case that they have expertise in.
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10 Dec, 2024 by Nikolai jones
I have never had a better experience with a law firm than the experience I had with Gilbert Law. They kept me updated on the process and the direction we were going every step of the way. They also fought hard to make sure I was covered in my recovery.
There experience and compassion was evident every step of the way.
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11 Nov, 2024 by Anonymous
We hired Elder law for Probate and at first they worked very good then our attorney left and we got a new one. He redid all the work the first one did and charged us more money to do it. The first lawyer said we had enough money to go to court and take care of the matter. Now that we got a new lawyerhe wants more money and hasn’t even set a court date. Look at their Yelp reviews and don’t hire.
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06 Feb, 2018 by Anonymous
We consulted with Lynn St. Louis and staff a few years ago to draw up estate plans for us. She and her entire crew, most especially Elizabeth Wallace, were excellent! We just made another appointment with them to discuss some further questions, and we wouldn't go anywhere else. We had gone to a couple of law offices previously, but were disappointed. Lynn and staff knew exactly how to deal with questions about protecting assets, Medicaid, wills, etc.
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16 Dec, 2016 by Gwen
We went to Lynn St. Louis to get my parent's will set up and Lynn and her associates were amazing and so helpful! They made sure that we understood everything, and didn't overwhelm us with legal jargon. They worked with us to make sure that everything was in place for when we needed it.
When my mother passed away, we called them to find out what the next step was. Before they even started they expressed their condolences and sent us a card! When we sat down with them to get my mother's estate squared away, they walked us through the process step by step. If we forgot what was going on, they were always happy to go over it again! They made sure to keep us posted when we needed to sign something, or what information we needed to bring them.
Their rates are very reasonable and they are worth every penny! I am so glad that we found Lynn St. Louis! I cannot say enough good things! If you want experience, and also want to be treated as a person, and not a billing number, this is the place to go!
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22 Jul, 2021 by Jim
My wife and I had a hard time knowing where to start, but we knew we needed to get our will redone. I got referred to Mike and Moulton through a friend. I started by watching the webinar online and we met with Mike the next week. He was a very friendly guy and not what I was fearing in an attorney, but I had watched the webinar so I had some idea. He helped us put together our Living Trust and I just cannot say enough about the peace of mind that comes with knowing it was done right. I talked with a friend who recently went to a different elder law group and they charged three times as much and they didn't even get a trust. Start with Moulton, you won't be disappointed.
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17 Jan, 2014 by Cheryl
As I have no knowledge of trusts or how to go about the final affairs of my dad passing, my dad always told me to "just call the card in the front of the book and he will tell you what to do!" I will say I have had a lot of questions for Michael Gunning and he is very friendly, informative, and helpful with any question I have either called or emailed! I have been surprised at how swift he answers my emails and his amount of patience he has with explaining in detail how to handle each question or situation I have encountered! I am sure I will have more questions, but he puts me at ease with the knowledge he will take the time to help me through this difficult task! My dad loved him and trusted him with his final affairs and I now understand why!! Michael is a wonderful lawyer with a kindness that I would recommend to anyone who needs to set up a will or trust!
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23 Feb, 2023 by Richard
Thor was fantastic he did everything he said he was going to do. He handled it professionally and I have no complaints if I ever needed him again I would never hesitate to call that law office.
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10 Dec, 2023 by Cda spine and brain
Extremely professional. Expert advice. No task to difficult. She gets it done!
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14 Aug, 2019 by Debra
The exceptional service and support we received from Matthew Luedke with Moulton Law Offices have spurred me to write and thank him for all he did for our family in settling our father’s estate. Matthew was unfailingly skilled and patient through what was a challenging time for us. He was available, knowledgeable and professional throughout the ups and downs of this new experience of being executor of an estate. No matter what the challenges along the way, and there were many, he navigated all of them on our behalf with outstanding expertise. We can’t thank him enough for his legal expertise, kindness, and guidance.
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27 Mar, 2019 by Monica
Our family has been working with Matthew Luedke of Moulton Law Offices for the past 5 plus years. He has assisted our family with a trust and all of the details with this trust. Matthew is always very patient answering all of our many questions over the years. We highly recommend his legal services.
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12 Mar, 2019 by Ross
Matthew has helped with elder issues for my mother spanning ten years. He set up a Living Trust, Irrevocable Trust, a VA pension, and helped with a Senior Discount for property taxes. His expertise has helped my mother's financial situation, and made my job of caring for her much easier.
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17 May, 2020 by Ari
I was introduced to Megaen through a colleague who had hired her for estate planning purposes and who'd highly recommended her.
Because estate planning involves very personal and emotional decisions, I wanted to make sure that my attorney wasn't just competent, but also empathetic and flexible to my and my family's specific needs. On my first call with Megaen, it was clear that I'd found someone who met all of my requirements and more.
Throughout the planning process, 3 things distinguished Megaen:
1. Megan clearly understands all the intricacies of estate law, but just as importantly, she explains things in a way that laypeople can understand. This is a huge help, particularly with something as important and nuanced as estate planning. As a husband and a parent, I want to make sure I understand all my options and exactly what I'm signing - Megaen always responded quickly to my requests and questions, and took all the time needed to explain everything in a way that gave me confidence in my decisions.
2. Megaen has what I consider to be a pretty remarkable memory. Throughout the planning process, each time we'd chat, it was as though no time had passed. Megaen remembered all the details of everything we'd discussed in prior meetings, even when I'd already forgotten some of them. Again, this gave me confidence in working with Megaen.
3. Megaen not only exudes great professionalism in all her interactions, but she's also very personable. This distinguishes her from other attorneys I've worked with over the years, and I believe it's one of the most important characteristics to look for in an estate planning attorney. In all my interactions, I felt as though Megaen was approaching the planning process with the same level of empathy and care that I'd get from a family member or close friend. In combination with the points above, this established Megaen as a trusted advisor to me and my family, and I'm very grateful for that.
Just as Megaen came highly recommended to me, I highly recommend her to anyone interested in planning for their estate.
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20 Dec, 2018 by Amy
I came to Megaen for help handling my late aunt’s estate/probate. Megaen was willing to take on my case when others wouldn’t. I didn’t have the resources to pay up front so others refused to help me. For this reason, messy family issues I was dealing with regarding the estate, and the fact that I lived in southwest Idaho and my aunt’s estate was in Spokane, I was extremely stressed and overwhelmed when I came to Megaen. Megaen helped ease that and guide me through the messiness. In addition to the standard probate process she had to deal with senior abuse, financial abuse, family issues, theft & fraud, major financial mistakes made by a bank and their, etc, etc, etc. She handled all of this smoothly, efficiently, and very professionally. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her. No words can truly capture how thankful I am for her and all that she did. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. If you need someone that can handle a probate case, and all of the various issues that may come with it, professionally, effectively, smoothly and with compassion, Megaen is the person for you. I VERY highly recommend her to anyone needing help like this!
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04 May, 2018 by Anonymous
We retained Megaen Childress to assist us in separating from a family owned LLC without losing what legally belonged to us. The legal system is very complicated for a lay person and Megaen was able to answer a million questions and represent us through mediation and litigation successfully. She was very responsive to us and occasionally called back even on the week-ends when we were in need of immediate advice. Our situation was both contentious and complicated and not once did Megaen lose her cool, even in the face of threats. We were very satisfied with Megaen's representation and would use her services again if there was a need.
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05 Jul, 2014 by Tonya
We had to go up against the government for a sexual harassment issue and Dianne was recommended to me by my neighbor. Oh em gee!!! She ROCKED my case! We did settle out of court and Ms. Rudman got everything we asked for and more. She was amazing, well prepared, smart, awesome....I just can't putdown enough words to describe how much I appreciate her. Thank you Dianne!!!!
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06 Oct, 2023 by Randy potter
06 Dec, 2021 by Johnathan bowers
I would highly recommend their services for anything to do with estate planning, trusts, wills, etc. They were professional, courteous, and very easy to work with. They were speedy and timely in all aspects. The entire staff did a fantastic job. I would highly recommend!
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16 Feb, 2021 by Josh soehner
10 Dec, 2023 by Cda spine and brain
Extremely professional. Expert advice. No task to difficult. She gets it done!
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27 Dec, 2024 by A d
Gravis Law Firm was professional and friendly in putting together our affairs. We appreciate that they had a package price so that we would be able to plan accordingly and finish the process.
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06 Nov, 2024 by Caleb stapp
Jonas Hemenway has been a go-to attorney for me to send my clients to for several years. I appreciate his down-to-earth communication style, sense of humor, and diligence on behalf of my clients.
Last year, a client I had sent to Jonas got back to me with a review: not only was the client very pleased, but the client had already sent in two different family members to get their estate plans updated!
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28 Oct, 2024 by Krystal harras
I used them twice once for bankruptcy and once for child custody and both times at great communication and great service couldn’t be more happy
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22 Oct, 2024 by Don dorris
07 Oct, 2024 by D k
ELG law firm recently did my and my husband’s wills/trusts and we could not be more pleased with the quality of the work that was done for us. All our (many) questions were answered, and the very complicated topic was made as clear as possible for us. We are confident that the legal documents that were created for our unique family situation are personalized and that there are no loose ends. ELG truly understands what is needed to make a difficult process as smooth and understandable as possible for potential heirs, which is a priority for us. Two of our adult children have disabilities and extra care is needed when planning for them. It’s also a relief to know that should anything happen to my husband and myself, our children can seek legal guidance from ELG. Working with ELG truly exceeded our expectations and I recommend them without reservation to anyone who needs wills/trusts or related long term planning and guidance. The care we take in our planning now will ensure our heirs will benefit as we intend and hope for them to do.
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25 Sep, 2024 by Ken b
22 Jan, 2025 by Tory w
Lisa is an amazing lawyer! Knows her stuff in and out. Super friendly and easy to work with as well. Thank you so much for all your help Lisa!
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09 Oct, 2024 by Valerie beaver
My father and his wife did their trust through Richard Perednia. I have been working to finalize his estate. I fedexed all documents and was told it would be a week and a half until he could get to it. Called today and he told me 2 additional weeks at least. When I stated he told he 1.5 weeks 2 weeks ago, he stated I'm swamped, you can pay an accountant to do this and I can send everything back. If you can't handle your business, perhaps you should retire.
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31 Jul, 2024 by Rachel bachman
Richard and Jessica are amazing. I worked alongside them to close a real estate transaction. They were both very responsive, detailed, and professional. Richard met our buyer to sign loan documents on a Sunday to accommodate his schedule as a wildland firefighter who had very little time during the summer. He also took time to explain each document, which is not always common unfortunately. They displayed excellent team work and genuine care for their clients. Thank you for your great service!
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16 Jan, 2025 by Patricia kowal
Emily Wilson became a total fit for my husband and me to complete our estate planning. She explained things clearly, was sensitive to our needs and her professionalism stellar. We also appreciated a flat fee for completing our documents and time spent with her in person and over the phone. No hidden fees. Grateful to have found her. Thank you, Emily.
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11 Jan, 2025 by Tanya keeble
I cannot say enough good things about working with Kathy Pauktert. She represented me in a State Farm car accident case, that went on for 6 years and was quite stressful. Every step of the way, I really felt that she was representing me fully, with no evidence of influence because it was a State Farm case, and she gave me excellent guidance but ensured that I made my own choices regarding next steps. She communicates very promptly, is kind, and gives an extremely persnalised experience. Her expertise was evident and I would recommend her (and do!) to folks going through similar cases. Knowing how competant she is, I would use this group for any case that they have expertise in.
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10 Dec, 2024 by Nikolai jones
I have never had a better experience with a law firm than the experience I had with Gilbert Law. They kept me updated on the process and the direction we were going every step of the way. They also fought hard to make sure I was covered in my recovery.
There experience and compassion was evident every step of the way.
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13 May, 2024 by Priscilla
Amy was incredible to work with. She really does put her clients first and you can see that in her work. I highly recommend if you are looking for a lawyer.
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27 Jun, 2023 by Jodi
I needed a probate attorney for my deceased father’s estate. Having never had to deal with this type of issue before, I was definitely in unfamiliar territory. A friend of mine recommended Amy- I am so glad she did! Amy was extremely knowledgeable about all of the ins and outs concerning the legal side of things. There is no way I could have settled my father’s estate without her. I highly recommend Amy Goertz- she will get it done for you!
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23 Jan, 2023 by Anonymous
I Had a valid contract for a rental. She allowed the other guy to go ahead and hire a rental agency. Superseding my valid contract.
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22 Feb, 2024 by Mskim58
i was involved in an auto accident, I found his firm to be very thourgh and thoughtful. He knows his business and is very responsive to keeping in touch.
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27 Sep, 2021 by Scott
Extremely unprofessional if you ask a question he doesn’t want to answer. Tried to hire him for his services. Feel like he doesn’t want money. Taking my case somewhere else. Advise you do the same.
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07 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr. Whipple and his competent staff helped us through the complicated probate process. They explained what was happening and what would happen later and made it less of a mystery. They did their best to implement our wishes in the distribution of the estate. We have nothing but thanks for them and their integrity. We would not hesitate to use their services in the future.
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04 Feb, 2025 by Anthony picicci
I hope you never have to deal with these clowns!
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26 Jan, 2025 by Ben gonzales
Cooney got a favorable outcome for my case that got me the help I needed and kept my life on track. Highly recommend!
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11 Oct, 2024 by Yi arias
Professional team ,excellent service! Everybody is professional and efficient! Couldn’t ask for more, Highly recommend !!
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08 Oct, 2024 by Zechary rios
Great group! I would recommend them to anyone!
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03 May, 2024 by Shawn
I was looking for a reputable, knowledgeable law firm to help with a probate issue. This firm kept coming up from a plethora of resources. Unfortunately they were at capacity both time's I enquired. They were very pleasant and encouraging. I would recommend calling them first.
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18 Apr, 2024 by Charlotte yergens
Great people to work with. Legal Information was explained in a way we could understand which assisted us in our estate planning decisions.
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13 Jun, 2023 by Mike roth
Whoever answers the phone is very rude, she cut me off while speaking. Not a good way to establish a business relationship. Good luck in the future.
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27 Feb, 2023 by Sarah stephens
Highly recommend this lawyer. Absolutely love working with Kirk and team!
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01 Dec, 2022 by Karl patureau
Terry answers and routes people needing help to the right legal and other resources competently. Even though she communicates in a Yankee dialect that reminds me of someone from the Northeast. She might be a local, who knows.
We needed help with a senior and Terry thought of all the right directions to take.
I have confidence this law firm has what it takes to help you.
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27 Jun, 2024 by Jason cooley
I have been working with Lukins & Annis now for two years, and I must say that all the staff I have interacted with are truly professional. David Webster and his team helped me navigate the probate arena, while Charles Hausberg and Zaine M. Yzaguirre have been stellar in helping me with my litigation. Their expertise and advice is well above the price they charge, and I cannot recommend this law firm enough; you will not be disappointed.
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18 Apr, 2024 by K
0 stars if I could. Go elsewhere
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23 Dec, 2022 by Michael a. mckay
Excellent work. Very pleased with the outcome!
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12 Jul, 2015 by Doug
Suzanne has represented me in several different cases. Each result has been in my favor. Her preparedness and knowledge were such that the other side had little or no chance at victory. She kept me "in the loop" each and every step of the way, telling me what to expect and reminding me to stay on track. She's ethical, and informed. She will tell you how it is and will also tell you when to settle your case so it does not drag on forever. She is tenacious and will not give up. Everyone knows horrible lawyers whose sole purpose seems to be billing hours. Suzanne Bartleson provides her clients with good value for her time, excellent knowledge of the law (in several different areas), and a strong work ethic. I have recommended her services to many people in the Spokane community who have used and relied on her law skills. I would give her 6 stars, but there are only 5.
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07 Oct, 2011 by Charles
i hired her based on the add in the yellow pages which indicates caring about children. i meet with her for free consultation and decided to hire her. at that time she indicated to me that i should seek 50% custody of our 6yr old son based on my work schedule which allows me availability to be a parent. one day after i hired her, my wife had her attorney file and serve a temporary dissolution. i was told that i needed to write a response to the dissolution to also be filed. i was not given any instruction to achieve this but was able to get the information from the internet. we emailed my response back and forth to edit it. i virtually wrote about 80- to 90% of the documents. at one point i questioned the condition of her edits and was told defensively that she had to spend 3 hours rewriting my documents because they were poor. i doubt that. when we meet with my wife and her attorney to file our legal seperation the next week, i asked ms. bartelson about the 50% custody and she told me that if either party is not in agreement that 50% custody would not occur. i told her that if she had told me that early on, i would not have requested it because i knew my wife would never allow it. this also caused my wife to get overly aggressive. at the time of our filing the legal seperation, i had agreed to move out of our home within 30 days. at the filing i was given documents to sign but was rushed and really not able to review them. the one that i should have reviewed was my child support schedule. the documents were filled out incorrectly and caused me to have to pay $200 more in child support each month. ms. Bartelson was aware of the correct figures but allowed the opposing attorney to use her schedule which was based on a copy of a worksheet that i had filled out incorrectly during our edit process.my wife retrieved the copy off my email account and provided it to her attorney. a big issue that i stated to ms. bartelson was that i needed to have access to the shop at our house for the winter to store things during the divorce process. once the legal seperation occured, my wife began a process of harrassment which i saw that i could not stay in our home for the 30 days i was given. i immediately moved out and my wife and her attorney began requesting that i vacate the shop also. ms. bartelson contacted me several times about this issue even after i stated to her that it was not possible and that it was the only agreement that i asked her to maintain. there were a few more motions filed by my wifes attorney which were resolved by agreement. i hired ms. bartelson in the beginning of oct and by mid dec. i reviewed my support schedule and realized that i was paying $200 more on my support than was needed. i called ms. bartelson to discuss my feelings about her short comings with my case but before i could list the multiple issues she cut me short and said she needed to remove herself from the case.at that time there was a motion in court to allow my wife to take our son on a winter vacation for three weeks. i was opposed to this because my time with him was reduced to 20% visitation and i wanted him to stay with me for the 3 weeks.she abandoned me at a critical point. in 2 1/2 months i spent $4,500 utilizing ms. bartelson and i spent $1000 in child support overage which i never recooperated. where divorce attorneys feel that they are due $200 - $250 per hour to provide poor service or to charge you for their time when you call to see why they are not working on your case. i spent an extra $2,800 on my next attorney which did absolutely no legal work but was to help file my finalized "mediated" dissolution. the $2800 was spent on me calling his legal aid from feb. to june to see why the divorce was not finalized. in the end, the majority of the dissolution documents that were signed and filed were from my original documents. my wifes attorney used my drafts. something is wrong with spokane's divorce attorneys.
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21 Oct, 2011 by Anonymous
For several years I used this attorney and found that he always charged top dollar and provided average work. It came to light when I hird another attorney to do some business deals that how found out how I had paid way to much. In addition several of Brian's deals had to be redone do to poor work all at my expense.
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15 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
I have known Brian Hipperson for over 15 years and he has acted as my counsel multiple times. He is always honest, trustworthy, straighforward, knowledgeable, of extremely high personal moral standards and an overall very kind gentleman. I would highly recommend him for real estate closings, contract issues, wills or trusts or any general law issues you may have.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Elder Law Lawyer Can Do for You
An elder law lawyer specializes in legal issues that affect older adults, their families, and caregivers. These lawyers handle a broad range of topics, including estate planning, Medicaid and Medicare, long-term care planning, guardianship, elder abuse, and retirement planning. The goal of an elder law lawyer is to protect the rights, finances, and well-being of elderly individuals and to help them plan for future healthcare and financial security.
If you or a loved one is aging and facing challenges related to healthcare, finances, or legal matters, an elder law lawyer can provide essential guidance to protect your rights and interests as you age.
When Should I Hire an Elder Law Lawyer?
Hiring an elder law lawyer can be beneficial in many situations where older adults need help with legal, financial, or healthcare-related decisions. Common reasons to hire an elder law lawyer include:
- Estate planning: If you want to create or update a will, set up trusts, or ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, an elder law lawyer can help with comprehensive estate planning.
- Medicaid and Medicare planning: If you need help qualifying for Medicaid to cover long-term care or need advice on navigating Medicare benefits, a lawyer can guide you through the application process and protect your assets.
- Long-term care planning: If you’re concerned about paying for nursing home care or assisted living, a lawyer can help you create a financial plan and explore options for government assistance.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If a family member is unable to make decisions due to age-related cognitive issues, an elder law lawyer can assist in setting up legal guardianship or conservatorship to ensure their care.
- Elder abuse and exploitation: If you or a loved one is experiencing physical, emotional, or financial abuse, an elder law lawyer can help you take legal action to stop the abuse and recover damages.
- Retirement planning: Elder law lawyers can assist with planning for retirement, including managing pensions, Social Security, and other retirement income.
- Special needs planning: If you have a disabled family member who requires special care, an elder law lawyer can help create trusts or other legal arrangements to ensure their long-term financial and healthcare needs are met.
What Does an Elder Law Lawyer Do?
An elder law lawyer provides a wide range of legal services to help older adults and their families navigate the complexities of aging, healthcare, and estate planning. Their responsibilities often include:
- Drafting wills and trusts: Creating legal documents that outline how an individual’s assets will be distributed after death, ensuring that their wishes are honored.
- Medicaid and Medicare planning: Helping clients protect their assets while qualifying for government benefits to cover healthcare and long-term care costs.
- Establishing guardianships: Assisting families in setting up guardianship or conservatorship for loved ones who are unable to make decisions due to mental or physical incapacity.
- Protecting against elder abuse: Investigating claims of elder abuse or financial exploitation and representing the victim in legal actions to stop the abuse and seek compensation.
- Planning for long-term care: Developing strategies to cover the costs of nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care options without exhausting the elder’s financial resources.
- Managing probate and estate administration: Guiding families through the probate process to ensure that the decedent’s assets are distributed according to the law and their wishes.
- Setting up advance directives: Helping clients establish healthcare directives and powers of attorney to ensure their medical and financial decisions are carried out if they become incapacitated.
How Are Elder Law Lawyers Paid?
Elder law lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the type of legal work involved. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Many elder law lawyers charge by the hour, especially for tasks such as drafting documents, handling legal disputes, or providing ongoing legal advice. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Flat fee: For specific tasks, such as drafting a will or setting up a trust, some lawyers charge a flat fee. This can range from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the estate plan.
- Retainer: For long-term legal representation, such as managing a trust or handling guardianship matters, a lawyer may charge a retainer, which is an upfront payment that covers future legal work.
- Contingency fee: In some elder abuse or financial exploitation cases, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they recover compensation for the client. This fee is typically a percentage of the settlement or damages awarded.
Be sure to discuss fees with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand how you will be billed and what the total cost of services might be.
How Much Does an Elder Law Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an elder law lawyer varies depending on the complexity of the case, the lawyer’s experience, and the fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Simple estate planning: Drafting basic documents, such as a will or power of attorney, may cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the complexity of the client’s assets and wishes.
- Complex estate planning: Setting up more advanced estate plans, such as revocable or irrevocable trusts, Medicaid planning, or special needs trusts, can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: Legal fees for setting up guardianship or conservatorship often range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case and whether disputes arise.
- Medicaid planning: Legal fees for Medicaid planning can range from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the level of asset protection needed and the complexity of the individual’s financial situation.
Always ask for an estimate of fees during your initial consultation to ensure you understand how much the legal services will cost.
Top Questions to Ask an Elder Law Lawyer
Before hiring an elder law lawyer, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure they have the experience and expertise needed to handle your case. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with elder law cases?
Make sure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it's estate planning, Medicaid applications, or elder abuse claims. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, a flat fee, or a retainer, and ask for a detailed estimate of the total cost. -
What is the best approach for my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your situation and what legal strategies the lawyer recommends. -
How long will the process take?
Whether it’s drafting an estate plan or setting up a guardianship, ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to take. -
Will you handle my case personally?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of the case. Make sure you know who will be working on your case directly. -
What documents should I bring to the consultation?
Ask the lawyer what documentation or information you should prepare for your consultation, such as medical records, financial statements, or prior legal documents.
How to Check the Credibility of an Elder Law Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable elder law lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Check their bar status: Verify with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed to practice and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for elder law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in elder law and have experience with cases similar to yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s professionalism and success rate.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on elder law issues.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications or affiliations with organizations such as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), which can indicate the lawyer’s dedication to elder law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with an elder law lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Existing estate planning documents: If you have a will, trust, or power of attorney in place, bring copies for the lawyer to review.
- Financial records: Provide details of your assets, including bank accounts, investments, real estate, and retirement accounts, as well as any debts.
- Medical information: If the case involves guardianship or Medicaid planning, bring relevant medical records that detail the individual's health condition and care needs.
- Insurance policies: Bring information about health insurance, long-term care insurance, and any other relevant policies.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions you have about your legal needs, the process, and the lawyer’s fees.
- List of family members or beneficiaries: Prepare a list of the individuals you want to include in your estate plan or who will be affected by the legal process.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and receive the best legal advice tailored to your needs.
