What questions should I ask an Elder Law attorney in Fayetteville?

Elder law is a legal specialty concentrated on issues relating primarily to seniors.  Attorneys who primarily work with seniors appreciate the complicated financial and social issues their clients face. Elder Law attorneys bring to their practice a knowledge of their clients that allows them and their staff to ignore the myths relating to aging and the competence of seniors. At the same time, they will take into account and empathize with some of the true physical and mental difficulties that often accompany the aging process.

Elder law attorneys are usually tied into a formal or informal system of social workers, psychologists, geriatric care managers, healthcare providers, and other professionals who may be able to assist you or your loved one. Elder law attorneys focus on providing legal advocacy, as well as counseling, educating and planning for future needs.

Questions to ask an elder law attorney in Fayetteville before the first appointment.

As with most specialties, there are particular areas of the law that elder law attorneys are qualified to handle.  However, the specific needs of each client require special attention that only an elder law attorney is equipped to provide.  There are common legal issues that elder law attorneys are familiar with, including Medicaid and Medicare coverage for long-term care, estate planning and administration, establishing trusts, guardianships and conservatorships.  However, not all elder law attorneys handle every one of these areas.  So, one of the first questions to ask should be which elder law matters they handle.  You should hire an elder law attorney in Fayetteville who frequently handles matters in the area of law you need assistance with.

The attorney should also generally know about other areas of elder law in order to recognize if your circumstances will affect any other legal issues.  For example, if you are considering rewriting your will and your spouse is ill, your attorney should be familiar enough with Medicaid to know if there are any legal issues with regard to your spouse’s inheritance under that will.

Other important questions are: how long has the attorney been practicing in the field of Elder law and what percentage of his or her practice is devoted to Elder Law?  It is also good to know whether there will be a fee for the first consultation, and based on your reason for consulting an attorney, what information or documentation should you bring with you to the initial consultation.  This can save time and prevent the need to reschedule another appointment just to provide the necessary documents.

The answers to these questions will help you to determine whether the attorney has the qualifications necessary to assist you with your legal concerns.  They will also prepare you for a productive and informative first consultation. Remember, if you have a specific legal issue that requires immediate attention, be sure to inform the office of this during the initial telephone conversation.

If you have any questions about any of the services provided by an elder law attorney in Fayetteville, Arkansas, we would be glad to answer them.