For most families whose loved one has a disability, financial planning is an act of love and a source of anxiety. Parents and caregivers often wonder how to provide long-term stability for their loved one with a disability without losing essential government benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. According to the Centers for […]
Special Needs Planning: Why A Trust Lawyer Is Essential To Succeed
Every year in America, countless families are wrestling with accommodating children with special needs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 7 million students are under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), receiving special education services. Behind these statistics are parents and caregivers asking themselves the same difficult questions: How will […]
How Elder Law Firms Can Serve You Beyond Estate Planning
By 2030, one in every five Americans is projected to be of retirement age. As our population ages, legal needs extend far beyond drafting wills and estate planning. When eighty-five-year-old Mrs. Alvarez fell in her home and faced mounting nursing-home bills, her daughter Maria assumed the worst: endless probate court battles and the dread of […]
What Is Elder Law? A Beginner’s Guide To Precedents And Their Importance
We at Suarez Law understand that getting older means confronting an entirely new set of problems, not just physically and emotionally, but legally as well. This is where elder law comes in. But what exactly is elder law? Elder law is a branch of legal practice that responds to the special needs of older adults, […]
Special Needs Trust: What It Is and Why It Matters
One of the most important decisions to be made on behalf of a loved one with disabilities or special needs involves careful planning for their financial security. A Special Needs Trust (SNT) helps provide financial protection while protecting their eligibility for needs-based government benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). At Suarez Law, […]
Are Elder Law Lawyers Crucial For Your Retirement Planning? Here is What You Need To Know
When planning for retirement, the most pressing things on people’s minds involve finances, health care, and how they want to spend their time. Fewer people consider the complex legal issues that arise at this stage of life. A lawyer specializing in elder law will help with the unique legal problems accompanying aging. They help plan […]
Special Needs Planning: Why A Trust Lawyer Is Essential To Succeed
Special needs planning ensures that loved ones with disabilities are appropriately cared for today and into the future. At its core is a specialized trust lawyer who will become indispensable in navigating the complex, rules-laden legal world. Special needs planning encompasses everything from the general financial and legal considerations necessary in safeguarding individuals with disabilities […]
Navigating Elder Law in Florida: A Beginner’s Guide to Protecting Your Rights
Elder law is a legal practice field focusing on issues affecting the aging population. It encompasses various areas, including estate planning, guardianship, disability, and nursing home care. Navigating the complexities of elder law is a daunting task for many families and individuals. In Florida, a state renowned for its sizable elderly population, understanding and protecting […]
Claiming A Parent As A Dependent
If you are caring for your mother or father, you may be able to claim your parent as a dependent on your income taxes. This would allow you to get an exemption ($3700 in 2011) for him or her. There are five tests to determine whether you can claim a parent as a dependent: The […]
Some Frank Thoughts On Planning For Incapacity
Waiting to Plan In my years of estate and elder planning, clients have presented at various stages of life’s unfolding: marriage, birth of grandchildren, retirement, incapacity, death. Events welcomed or feared prompt clients to seek advice and the legal tools needed to navigate the passages. I admire those who have the foresight and the discipline […]