Qualified & Experienced Estate Planning and Elder Law
Estate planning can be a difficult subject to approach or talk about. Many people do not enjoy entertaining the thought that they will not be around to spend time with and help their loved ones. When drawing up an estate plan, you’re essentially arranging for your own care and for the eventual distribution of your assets to your loved ones. You get to decide who receives the authority to carry out your financial and health care wishes if you’re unable to do so. Preparing for the future and protecting your family’s well being can seem overwhelming, but with the help of an experienced Columbia County certified elder law attorney at Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC, you can settle these affairs without stress or confusion – and at an affordable flat rate. You want someone who has dedicated his or her career to helping people in these matters. In other words, you want someone who specializes in estate planning and elder law.
As the only Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Columbia and Montour Counties, Attorney Marianne E. Kreisher and Marissa B. Marshall have the professional expertise to help you make important decisions about your estate, assets, and long-term goals with confidence. They take great pride in receiving many client referrals from nursing homes and other care facilities in the community and value their roles in helping families take care of each other. Compassion, honesty, and reliable service are at the heart of the practice.
Let us help you and your loved ones find the peace of mind you deserve at any stage of life. At Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC, we help all kinds of people – single and married, rich and modest alike – create customized estate plans that meet their needs and leave no stone unturned. Proper estate planning is a complex process that should never be accomplished with fill-in-the-blank templates. Let us empower you to make the best choices for you and your family by providing you with exceptional quality, personal legal services. To discuss your estate plan with one of our experienced Pennsylvania estate planning attorneys, call us today at 570-798-1084.
Why is estate planning so important?
Because you never know what might occur and it’s always a good idea to have your wishes made clear on paper just in case … Because you don’t want someone else to determine what happens to you, your family, and your assets … Because you want to maintain control of the things dearest to you, even when you’re not around … Because you want to reduce the amount of taxes your heirs will have to pay.
When drawing up an estate plan, you’re essentially arranging for your own care and for the eventual distribution of your assets to your loved ones. You, not the court, get to decide who receives empowering fiduciaries to carry out your financial and health care wishes if you’re unable. You also get to decide what happens to your property and other assets and to whom they are distributed.
If you don’t leave a Will in place at your death, the state determines how your assets will be distributed. This can result in financial devastation for your loved ones since assets may pass in an undesirable manner and the effects of income and estate taxes can be potentially severe. Therefore, it is in your best interest to consult with an estate planning attorney.
What is Elder Law and Do I Need Elder Law Services in Pennsylvania?
Elder law is essentially an umbrella term for a wide range of issues that affect the needs of families and individuals as they age. For example, a major issue that many adults must address as their parents get older is whether or not their mother or father should live in a long-term nursing home. Depending on the circumstances, a high quality nursing home may be financially out of reach without careful planning and saving. An elder law attorney can help you navigate without a hitch.
Other important issues that can be settled with an elder law lawyer include:
Wills and Trusts – Wills and estate plans are ways of transferring an individual’s wealth and/or assets from one person to another. Over the course of an individual’s lifetime, assets and money can accumulate. If something were to happen to you, wills and trusts can ensure what you’ve accumulated is given to the individuals or institutions you chose. You may want to bestow your assets upon a spouse or partner, siblings, children, friends, or even a charity or business.
Power of Attorneys – A financial durable power of attorney is probably the most important document you can have. This enables you to appoint an individual or individuals to handle your financial affairs during your lifetime if you become incapacitated. Even married couples need a power of attorney. If you don’t have one and you become unable to handle your finances, your loved ones will need to pursue a petition for guardianship in the Court of Common Pleas.
Mental Healthcare Directives – A mental healthcare directive is a legally binding document that allows a chosen person to make decisions on behalf of another individual in case their mental health deteriorates. The chosen person is only able to make decisions if the individual is mentally unfit as determined by a treating physician. These documents ensure that someone you trust will have the ability to advocate for you and your needs if you are unable.
Asset Protection – If you and your family have assets that you wish to shield from potential costs or loses, your first order of business is to speak with a qualified Bloomsburg estate planning lawyer. Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC, have the experience, understanding and skill to help you determine exactly what assets you wish to protect and the best way to ensure that your assets are guarded.
Special Needs Planning – Ensuring the long-term welfare of individuals with disabilities can be tricky. Proper planning is necessary to ensure proper care and maintain qualification for many benefits. The use of Special Needs Trusts, Life Insurance, ABLE accounts and more can be used to benefit the disabled individual and also assist any siblings that may be left with caretaking responsibilities. Our certified elder law attorneys have the knowledge and experience to guide you.
Medicare/Medicaid – Hiring an attorney to assist with your Medicaid and/or Medicare applications can help you navigate the application process. Both programs are complex, and the rules are constantly changing. Having an elder law attorney on your side can help you get the benefits that you are entitled to in a quick and easy manner.
Home Care – Whether you are having trouble affording home care, or a loved one has been abused by a home care administrator, our attorneys have the experience and training to help you with all your home care needs.
Life Care Planning – Life care planning is how veteran and knowledgeable elder law attorneys and care coordinators work in tandem with you and your family to meet your medical, long-term care, legal and emotional needs. The focus of a life care plan is to strive for your good health, safety and well-being in the least restrictive environment possible.
Estate Administration/Probate – At Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC, we provide complete estate administration from the filing of a petition to probate, a will to the petition for final accounting, and distribution of assets. It is our goal to take the pressure off the beneficiaries with all aspects of the estate.
Taking the time to discuss the matters that may eventually impact you and your loved ones with a knowledgeable lawyer today can help prevent heartache and financial hardship in the future. It’s never too early to prepare. Our office is located in the heart of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at 570-798-1084 and we will be more than happy to speak with you about issues on aging during a comprehensive consultation. You can also schedule online:
- Basic Estate Planning – preparation of power of attorneys, wills, advanced health care directives – does NOT include trusts and asset protection planning.
- Advanced Estate Planning & Asset Protection – preparation of power of attorneys, wills, advanced health care directives, asset protection planning and trusts.
- Nursing Home Placement/Medicaid
- Estate Administration/Probate
- Life Care Planning
If you are uncertain what type of appointment you need, please reach out to us by phone at 570-798-1084 or send us an email.