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Frequently Asked Questions
What is elder law?
Elder law is a practice area that addresses the legal needs of older adults and their families. It encompasses estate planning, incapacity planning, long-term care planning, guardianship and conservatorship, veterans benefits coordination, and special needs planning – all focused on protecting the dignity, assets, and wishes of aging individuals.
What is the difference between elder law and estate planning?
Estate planning primarily addresses what happens to your assets and dependents after your death. Elder law addresses legal planning for the challenges of aging while you are still living – including who makes decisions if you lose capacity, how to plan for long-term care costs, and how to protect your assets through legal structures.
Does Terry Law Firm provide Medicaid planning?
No. Terry Law Firm does not provide Medicaid planning services. Our elder law practice focuses on the legal side of aging: incapacity planning, durable powers of attorney, healthcare directives, long-term care planning through trusts and legal structures, guardianship avoidance, and estate planning for seniors.
What is a guardianship and when is it necessary?
A guardianship is a court-supervised arrangement in which a judge appoints a person to make personal decisions for an incapacitated adult. A conservatorship covers financial decisions. Guardianship is necessary when a person has become incapacitated without having signed a durable power of attorney or healthcare directive while competent. Proper advance planning avoids this entirely.
What elder law planning is most important for seniors in Washington and Utah?
The most important documents for seniors in both states are a durable power of attorney for finances, a healthcare power of attorney, and a healthcare directive. These three documents ensure someone you trust – rather than a court – makes decisions for you. A properly funded trust also avoids probate and provides management during incapacity.
How does Terry Law Firm help seniors in Sumner, WA and St. George, UT?
Terry Law Firm provides elder law guidance from two offices: Sumner, WA (253-299-6800) serving Pierce and King County, and St. George, UT (435-274-1200) serving Washington and Iron County. We help seniors and families with incapacity planning, legal structures for long-term care, and estate planning tailored to each state’s laws.
