If you have a requirement for an elderly law attorney, it is very important that you find one that is truly good at what they do. According to John Peck Legacy Lawyers, this means finding someone who is trained in these complexities, and who has the compassion to deal with elderly people. It is vital that you take advantage of a free consultation and ask the right questions, thereby finding a lawyer that works for you.
John Peck Legacy Lawyers and the Most Important Questions to Ask
According to John Peck, the most important questions to ask are:
- Do you have an elderly law specialization?
This may seem like a very obvious question to ask, but you should not take the answer as a given. Plenty of firms focus on general law, which means they will take on any case that comes there way. Elderly people have complex legal needs, however, which means you need someone who specializes in this. Look, for instance, for guardianship or Medicare lawyers. They will have up to date and relevant knowledge on these pertinent issues.
- What areas of law are handled at the firm?
Elderly people deal with a variety of different issues. This is why it may be beneficial to work with a firm that can handle many different issues as well. Some of those are automatically covered under the umbrella of elderly law, others are not. Some of the areas you may want to look into include:
- Medicaid and Medicare.
- Guardianship.
- Disability and/or social security.
- Durable powers of attorney.
- Estate planning.
- Living wills.
- Elder abuse.
- Long term care needs.
- Trust and estate management.
- Preservation of assets.
- Pension, survivor benefits, and retirement.
- Age discrimination.
- Mental health and competency issues.
- Do you have any professional memberships?
There are a lot of national organizations that focus on elderly law. Consider, for instance the Special Needs Alliance and the NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.). There may also be some local organizations to look into.
- Are you classed as a super lawyer?
Only 5% of lawyers in each specialization area are given the title of “super lawyer”. This designation is given by their peers. If your lawyer has this designation, they are obviously highly recognized for their work.
- Do you teach others about elder law?
Good lawyers regularly attend speaking engagements and give lectures on a variety of issues that face the elderly population, which are people over the age of 65. Additionally, they may be litigation lawyers and frequent see the Bar Association call them in for their assistance. If your lawyer does any of those things, you can be sure of the fact that they are truly good at what they do, and that they understand the issues that elderly people face. If your attorney teaches, make sure it is about elderly issues, such as health care, competency, abuse, estate planning, or retirement.
With a little bit of time and patience, you should be able to find the perfect lawyer for your needs.