Aging adults have different legal needs than younger adults, which is why it is highly advisable to work with our skilled elder law attorneys in Vancouver WA who understand these issues and the laws around them. We can ease the financial and practical burdens that may fall upon you and your loved ones should you become ill or disabled.

At Robert Russell Law Office, we can help inform and guide you in planning for the future. From creating an incapacitation plan to ensuring that your loved ones receive your assets, our trusted Washington estate planning lawyers will create a comprehensive strategy to address all of your needs. Let us help you resolve your legal issues skillfully, protect your assets with compassion, and utilize every means possible to achieve your desired results.

Contact us now and schedule a free initial consultation by video or phone to learn more about how we can help you.

Why Do I Need an Elder Law Attorney in Washington?

As we grow older, our legal needs change. While no one wants to face the inevitable, responsible people choose to plan. Many don’t know where to begin, so consulting with our credible Vancouver elder law attorney can help you get on the right track for your golden years.

At Robert Russell Law Office, we are committed to:

  • Using a holistic approach to handle the legal needs of older adults and their families.
  • Helping numerous clients and their families with many different situations and goals to protect their legacy and plan for their future.
  • Creating legal solutions that best fulfill your goals and priorities.
  • Providing a clear and concise understanding of each step in the process.
  • Take the time to explain your options, including the pros and cons.
  • Utilizing our extensive legal experience in estate law areas, including wills, trusts, estate planning, estate administration, probate, asset protection, guardianship, long-term care plans, and related elder law matters.

Located in downtown Vancouver, Washington, our law office offers legal services to our senior citizens, their families, and their care providers. Contact us now and schedule a free initial consultation by video or phone with our Washington estate planning lawyers to learn more about your legal options.

What is Elder Law?

Elder law is the specialized field of law that addresses the diverse legal needs of aging populations. It covers a wide range of financial and legal matters affecting elderly people or senior citizens. It is an area of law that is targeted to a particular age group and the issues that are unique to them. While some elder law issues result in litigation and contested hearings, most elder law is transactional, including document preparation.

The laws that govern the elderly may vary from state to state and are frequently subject to change. Our knowledgeable elder law attorney in Vancouver WA can help you understand and navigate the complex Washington elder laws.

What are the Areas of Elder Law?

Elder law encompasses many legal areas. Our knowledgeable Vancouver elder law attorney can help you learn more about the major categories that make up elder law.

Planning for Incapacitation

If you become incapacitated without a plan in place, your family and loved ones will ultimately have to petition the court for guardianship to be able to manage your financial and medical affairs. A guardianship is a legal decision to allow another person to control a senior’s care, finances, and other major decisions. Make sure you have up-to-date durable powers of attorney and advanced healthcare directives.

It is also important to consider long-term care insurance and/or disability insurance. They can even be used to help preserve assets when threatened with financial loss due to tax issues, and long-term care costs, tax issues, and to assist in protection from elder abuse.

Long-Term Care

This area of elder law focuses on the services that elderly people often use to live safely when they cannot take care of themselves. Long-term care planning will help you pay for care while preserving your assets. It includes assisted living facilities, nursing homes, long-term health insurance, and benefits under Social Security, disability, and Medicaid programs. We can assist you in planning for eligibility and arranging your assets to qualify at the earliest possible time.

Wills

Ideally, you want to write a will while you are still relatively young, especially if you have dependent children. A will is an essential part of an estate plan that states how a person wishes to dispose of their assets. It can offer far more protections than just making sure assets are distributed after your death as you intend. You can protect your beneficiaries from taxes, creditors, loss of benefits, or exploitation. 

If you become incapacitated or die without a will, then your assets, finances, and other matters undergo probate.  Probate is the court-supervised process for settling a deceased person’s estate. This means the court will decide what will happen to your dependents and how your assets are to be distributed.

Trusts

A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows a trustee to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary. One of the biggest advantages of trusts, however, is that they can transfer your property without the expense and delay of probate. Depending on the applicable state laws, there are various reasons that a will or a trust may be preferable in any given case.

Elder Abuse

Unfortunately, as people age, they become more prone to personal or financial abuse. Elder abuse is a term referring to any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. 

Elder abuse is one area that often involves litigation, mainly injury lawsuits against nursing home operators, caregivers, family members, or other people who are responsible for older adults. Financial elder abuse can also occur through the use of a durable power of attorney or by undue influence. If you see warning signs of elder abuse, you might consider consulting our top-ranking elder law lawyers in Vancouver WA about your legal options.

Call Our Experienced Vancouver Elder Law Attorney Now!

The elderly are among the most vulnerable in our society. Many are unable to protect themselves from financial predators or people in their lives who may otherwise abuse them. Elder law is a continually evolving and growing area of the law that deals with issues that our ever-increasing population of elderly individuals and vulnerable adults face.

If you or a loved one needs guidance in estate planning or elder law concerns, our seasoned Vancouver elder law attorneys at Robert Russell Law Office are here to help you. Our estate planning law firm provides legal advice for the unique requirements of older clients and their loved ones. We serve as advocates for the rights of seniors and assist in navigating federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

Schedule a free phone or video consultation with us today to learn more about how we can assist you with identifying your future goals and determining your best next steps. We help you age with dignity, assurance, and grace.