Safe Harbor Estate Law and Elder Care

Safe Harbor’s on-staff special needs attorneys specialize in special needs law in Minnesota and can answer any questions you may have about the legal rights of those who may be physically or mentally disabled and how to safeguard their future.

Safe Harbor’s special needs attorneys can help set up a Supplemental or Special Needs Trust that will provide financial security for your loved one with special needs while keeping their government benefits. We can help them keep or obtain government benefits, create incapacity documents, obtain guardianship/conservatorship from the court, and protect assets for those incapacitated or disabled.

Special needs law covers a broad range of topics helpful to families with loved ones with disabilities. At Safe Harbor, we include special needs law as part of our elder law practice. If you have a loved one age 17 or older, we recommend you hire a special needs (elder) lawyer to make the most of your loved one’s future. Contact Safe Harbor Estate Law today to talk about a special needs estate plan.

An elder law attorney should be contacted before a person begins to experience age-related or disability difficulties, or in the case of a child with special needs, before the child turns 18. Many cases of incapacity have legal implications and can take time to resolve, therefore seeking assistance early is always best. In addition, more assets can be protected, and more stress avoided if planning is done before the client becomes incapacitated. Elder law attorneys work closely with family members and guardians who must make difficult decisions regarding the care and support of incapacitated individuals based on the laws of the state.

Elder law attorneys assist clients with financial and personal matters, including estate planning, asset protection, and Medicaid planning. Elder law attorneys also handle matters involving incapacity, probate and trust administration, and guardianship. Many people are surprised at how helpful an elder law attorney can be. Contact Safe Harbor today to learn more about how Elder Law can help you.

No, elder law is a related area dealing with the legal issues surrounding incapacity, vulnerability and long term care needs. Elder law attorneys are attorneys who are knowledgeable about issues facing seniors and those with disabilities. Elder law can provide invaluable assistance to families struggling to make major decisions regarding the care of senior family members or individuals with disabilities. Elder law is related to but different from estate planning because of its focus on incapacity and disability issues. We recommend that any senior work with an estate planning attorney who is also an elder lawyer, like the lawyers at Safe Harbor Estate Law.

Most clients tell us their main reason for creating an estate plan is to protect their loved ones. Having a comprehensive, up to date estate plan in place can protect your loved ones by minimizing conflict, stress, and hassle. It can also make provisions so that your hard-earned assets benefit those you love while taking steps to avoid court. It can also protect your assets by minimizing taxes and expenses, and poor financial choices. A good estate plan also protects you, so that you have the healthcare you want, and your finances are managed well during your life. With our Smooth Sailing System, you can work with Safe Harbor to create a well-rounded estate plan, so that you can sail smoothly even if rough waters come up in the future.

An estate plan is a custom, comprehensive design for how you want your assets handled if you are incapacitated or deceased. The plan includes a group of documents to accomplish your goals, including appointing people to handle your affairs and protecting your assets. Documents include a will, power of attorney, health care directive, and often a trust, deeds, and other documents. A comprehensive plan will include important instructions about how to use the documents including beneficiary designations and asset titling so that your assets don’t undermine your plan. At Safe Harbor, we design documents to last as long as possible, but they can be fine-tuned if your personal situation changes or if you see fit. Safe Harbor is here to ensure your beneficiaries receive assets, minimize taxation, expense and hassle, and guarantee your wishes are honored.

It depends on what you compare the cost to. The cost is often less than you would spend in the long run if you did not have a plan, and it is a fraction of the assets that you are protecting. The cost of estate planning varies on a case-to-case basis. It is normally a flat fee price, so you know what you are getting into ahead of time. After sharing your story with Safe Harbor, our Client Relations Manager will educate you on your options, the pros and cons, and the costs of each option, so that you are empowered to make an educated decision about the best value to you. Get in touch with us to find out more about our estate planning services.

An estate planning attorney has estate planning as a major area of their practice. They listen to clients and work with them to create and implement an estate plan that meets their goals. They explain options and answer questions to help you make educated decisions and be comfortable with your plan. They can help you set up a will, trust, power of attorney, health care directive, and other documents. When you use a qualified estate lawyer, you can reduce estate taxes, take steps to avoid probate, minimize expenses and stress, and feel confident that your loved ones are protected, and your assets benefit whoever you want to benefit. In addition, if you work with an elder law estate planner, they can help you protect assets that would otherwise be spent on long-term care.

A will is just one of the documents included in an estate plan. A will appoints someone to handle your estate after you die and tells where your assets will go. Your estate plan is designed by an estate planning attorney to facilitate your wishes for your finances and healthcare while you are alive (if you lose capacity), and your wishes for your assets after you die. Documents in the estate plan include your will, power of attorney, health care directive, and often a deed, trust, and other documents. In addition to these legal documents, a comprehensive estate plan will include instructions on how to name beneficiaries and title your assets, so that your assets don’t undermine the plan set forth in the documents. Everyone over 18 needs at least some of the documents in an estate plan. Talk with our Safe Harbor Estate Law team to see how we can help plan your estate.

Yes we can, we would love to help.