As senior citizens make up a larger percentage of the population, there are more and more families who need help understanding the increasingly complex financial and medical systems that support the elderly in Ohio. Fortunately, the field of elder law is rapidly growing to address the needs and concerns of families who have questions about caring for their aging relatives.
If you are a senior citizen, caregiver, or family member with questions, contact our Dublin, OH elder law attorneys at DuPont Law Group. Our team will meet with you to discuss your situation, answer questions, and suggest solutions for the elder care issues you are facing.
Our compassionate attorneys have decades of experience in dealing with the legal, practical, and difficult questions and concerns facing clients who are dealing with the complications of aging. Whether it is considering the best way to pass assets to the next generation, protect themselves, or protect a spouse, contact DuPont Law Group for experienced advice and counsel to protect your interests.
What is Elder Law?
Elder law is simply an area of legal specialty focusing on the needs and concerns related to aging. It can encompass areas including estate planning, caregiving, guardianship, and power of attorney issues. An elder law attorney in Dublin, OH can advise you about the legal, financial, and ethical issues that may arise as you get older or become a caregiver for an elderly family member.
Our Elder Law Services
Our estate planning and elder law team helps our clients implement plans ranging from very simple to complex, with advice and documents appropriate for their particular planning needs, including:
- Wills
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Irrevocable Trusts, including Grantor Trusts and GRATS
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
- Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
- Dynasty trusts and asset protection planning through trusts
- Multi-Generation Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts for disabled children or adults
- Charitable Remainder Trusts
- Living Wills and Powers of Attorney
- Advance medical directives
In most instances, the fees for these services are charged on a flat fee and not hourly basis.
Navigating Healthcare Programs for Seniors
As you get older, it is no surprise that you may need more medical care. Regular doctor visits, medication, specialists, and surgery expenses can all add up until they significantly drain your finances, especially alongside the income changes that accompany retirement. Planning to make sure you know how you will pay for your medical care as you age is critical, especially if you develop a chronic condition or a serious illness that requires long-term care.
The experienced elder law attorneys at DuPont Law Group can help you plan for the increasing costs of caregiving in Dublin, OH. While care costs continue to increase nationwide, Ohio has seen a 14% increase in homemaker service costs, 3% increase in home health aid costs, and a 4% increase in the cost of assisted living communities, as reported by the 2024 Cost of Care Survey. The sooner you begin planning, the more options you may have for funding future needs. Some of the financing options available may include insurance, long-term care policies, Medicare, Medicaid, retirement or other savings accounts, or a combination of these options.
Estate and Financial Planning
One key aspect of elder law is estate planning. Many people think estate planning is just about what happens to a person’s property after they pass away. However, a skilled estate planning attorney will also consider the client’s own needs as they age, especially if they need special help for physical or cognitive reasons.
No estate plan is complete without a sound financial plan that ensures your wealth supports your life and the way you want to live it. The financial professionals at our sister company, Advocate Wealth Solutions, specialize in retirement planning and take pride in helping clients navigate this stage of life.
Power of Attorney Needs
Elder law professionals often draft wills and trusts, but they could also help you plan for long-term care needs and medical costs. Your attorney could advise you about the different types of power of attorney, or POA. A POA is a legal document that allows you to choose another person to make financial or medical decisions for you under specific, defined circumstances. There are many different types of POA, and they can be limited or durable.
While a limited power of attorney gives an agent decision-making power over an established period of time, a durable power of attorney ensures that power remains intact long-term, even after the principal becomes incapacitated. Through a power of attorney, an agent could be given powers to manage your financial accounts, invest money on your behalf, buy and sell property in your name, and more.
Ohio’s version of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act provides some safeguards, such as prohibiting changes to estate plans unless specifically authorized by the POA. Because a POA gives another person significant control over your finances, you need to have an elder law attorney you trust to help you understand your rights, including how to change your agent or revoke the POA.
Additionally, if you eventually need a guardian or conservatorship because of aging or medical reasons, your Dublin elder law attorney could assist with the process. Because these are sensitive issues, it is vital to have an attorney who you can trust will represent your interests and who knows how to navigate complicated family dynamics.
Contact an Elder Law Attorney in Dublin, OH Today
Many tools can be used to ease your mind throughout the aging process and prepare your estate for the future. Elder law attorneys are valuable resources for navigating the complexities of aging, offering guidance on both medical and financial matters. Given the unique nature of each individual’s circumstances, a consultation with an attorney is recommended to address your specific needs.
Whatever your questions may be, reach out to the Dublin, OH elder law attorneys at DuPont Law Group. Our team is happy to support you.
Greg DuPont, JD, CFP®, is a well-respected estate attorney, financial advisor, public speaker, and published author. He centers his multiple businesses around education, guidance, and relationship-building. This comprehensive combination gives him, and his team, the opportunity to effectively serve both individuals and their families. He is a life-long resident of Central Ohio and spends the majority of his time with his wife, Julia, and daughter, Sophie.
