New Jersey residents who are getting on in years may not like thinking about end-of-life matters, but this is something they may want to think about sooner rather than later. Why? Without putting plans in place and having certain legal documents created, in the event of incapacitation or death, senior citizens may be taken advantage of or have their final wishes ignored. These things can be avoided by turning to an elder law attorney to complete end-of-life planning.
What exactly do elder law attorneys do? Most perform a variety of legal tasks. They can assist with estate planning, which may involve writing wills, creating trusts and establishing powers of attorney. They can also help with long-term care planning, which may include appointing a guardian and Medicaid planning.
Many people are worried about the expense of hiring an elder law attorney, which is one of the reasons they put off completing end-of-life planning, or they try to do it themselves. When it comes to do-it-yourself estate or long-term care planning, any generic forms found online, while appealing, are not likely to be state-specific; therefore, the protection they provide — if any — may be lacking. At the end of the day, the cost of failing to have the proper protections in place in the event of one’s incapacitation or death may be far greater than any attorney fees.
An elder law attorney can help with most, if not all, aspects of end-of-life planning. New Jersey residents who utilize the services offered by this type of attorney will walk away with a final product that is specifically tailored to their needs and can hold up in court. Knowing that a plan is in place and ready to be put into action at a moment’s notice can provide peace of mind.