Elder Law
It is no overstatement to say that the cost of long-term care is a crisis in America. The Florida Department of Children and Families recently published that the average private pay nursing home rate in Florida as of July 1, 2019 is $9,485.00! Without long term care insurance, it can be almost impossible to pay for such care privately.
Medicaid benefits can be a much-needed lifeline to those that need to pay for skilled nursing, but there are strict financial requirements one must meet in order to qualify. For example, an individual (unmarried) applicant must have less than $2,313.00 per month in income and less than $2,000.00 in assets.
Most people cannot afford to pay $9,485.00 per month for nursing care, but their income or assets are too high to qualify for Medicaid benefits. That is where an experienced, knowledgeable elder law attorney can help. Do not assume that just because your income or assets are higher than the program requirements that you cannot qualify for Medicaid.
If you or a loved one are in need of long-term care planning, contact our office today. The law office of Jessica K Close, P.A. can evaluate your individual situation and recommend several planning strategies to assist you in paying for your long-term care while offering you peace of mind that your medical needs will be met.
Guardianship Law
A guardian is an individual or institution who has been appointed by the court to make personal and/or financial decisions for an incapacitated person.
The process of becoming a guardian for an incapacitated person is a two-part process. First, the court must find that an alleged incapacitated person lacks the capacity to manage at least some of his or her property or to meet at least some essential health and safety requirements of the person. Second, if the court finds an individual lacks capacity, it will appoint a guardian.
A guardianship attorney can be involved in this process either by assisting an individual, often a family member, to petition the court to determine a loved one’s incapacity or by representing the alleged incapacitated person in the proceedings.
If a guardian is appointed, an attorney must serve as the “attorney of record” in all court proceedings. If you believe a loved one is in need of a guardianship or if you seek representation as an alleged incapacitated person, contact our office today. The law office of Jessica K Close, P.A., can assist with any aspect of the guardianship process of an adult in Florida.
Estate Planning
It has been said that everyone has an estate plan, even those who think they don’t. Your estate plan can either be the plan that you deliberately draw up, or it can be the default plan that the state enacts through intestacy laws in the absence of a deliberate plan.
Every adult should have at least some basic documents in place, such as a will, durable power of attorney, living will, and healthcare surrogate. The latter three documents serve a vital role as lesser restrictive alternatives to a guardianship.
If you have these documents in place, you can name an individual to make legal, financial, or healthcare decisions on your behalf even if you lose capacity to make those decisions yourself. Beyond these basics, estate planning can help individuals or couples achieve more complex goals, such as avoiding probate, providing for a loved one with special needs, or accomplishing business or tax objectives through various types of trusts.
If you are in need of estate planning, whether simple or complex, contact our office today. The law office of Jessica K Close, P.A. can help you set up a plan that gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your wishes will be carried out and your loved ones will be cared for in the future.
Probate Law
Probate is the legal process by which the assets of a deceased person are distributed to their heirs or beneficiaries. The court oversees the estate to make sure that debts are disposed of and proper distribution is made.
Probate proceedings are initiated by an interested person filing a Petition with the probate court requesting that the court appoint a personal representative and distribute the decedent’s property according to the terms of the will or, if there is no will, state law.
In most cases it is necessary for an attorney to represent the petitioner and eventual personal representative throughout the probate process. If you are in need of an attorney to assist you in opening or administration of a probate estate, contact our office today. The law office of Jessica K Close, P.A. can assist with any aspect of the probate process.
Real Estate Closings
The law office of Jessica K Close provides real estate closing services and title insurance for both residential and commercial transactions.
Whether you are a real estate professional, buyer, or seller, real estate matters require a significant investment of both your time and money. This investment deserves a law firm dedicated to serving you with efficiency and competency. Contact our office for more information on our real estate attorney services.