how much should i pay for elder care attorney

Depending on the issues, I have found that most elder law attys. charge from $250-300 an hour, which is not out of line with other atty. rates. If you are in a money bind, or your loved one is, call your local or state Elder Affairs people for references to lawyers who do discounted or sometimes pro bono work for elders as a form of "giving back."

Full Answer

How much does an elder law attorney make?

Here is an example of how it works in one elder law firm: The firm will talk with a prospective client over the phone. As discussed above, the firm will not provide specific advice during this call but will answer more general questions. The firm charges $500 for an initial, in-person consultation. The client has no commitment to pay anything ...

How much does an elder law attorney cost?

Jul 27, 2020 · There isn’t a clear-cut answer as to the cost of hiring an elder care attorney for Medicaid planning purposes. Some Medicaid lawyers offer free consultations, while others charge an initial consultation fee or offer Medicaid planning conferences that range in cost from approximately $175 – $500.

What do elder law attorneys charge for their services?

Aug 18, 2013 · Assuming the elder law attorney I am considering is honest and good at their job is $550.00/hr a usual amount to pay for their services?

Who needs an elder care attorney?

Jun 24, 2019 · Again, Michigan nursing homes charge, on the average, over $8,400 per month. If a Medicaid worker rejects an application after three months the loss is over $25,000! Fifth: The attorney must advise the client of the best, most suitable, “asset and income protection” strategy.

How long does it take to get a medicaid application?

A Medicaid application will be rejected without “documentation” of the current cash value of the asset. It can take four weeks to get the needed paperwork. When children help elderly parents, finding or recovering the documentation can be challenging and time consuming.

What does "spend down" mean in Medicaid?

Spend down means that the applicant has only $2,000 at the time of application. If an average suburban married couple follows the advice of most nursing homes they may spend over $100,000 at the nursing home before applying for Medicaid. The attorney should be able to help an average couple to save that $100,000.

Does Michigan have medicaid?

Third: A little known fact is that Michigan has “Medicaid estate recovery.”. That means the government will take the house for repayment after the applicant and spouse dies. This can be a loss form $100,000 to $300,000 and up. Part of the attorney’s work is to make sure the government does not get the house.

How can an elder law attorney help seniors?

2 ways an elder law attorney helps seniors and family caregivers. 1. Plan for the future and protect assets. An elder law attorney has the expertise to make recommendations on how to plan for future care needs. They often answer questions like:

How to find an elder law attorney?

2 ways to find an elder law attorney. 1. Get a referral from someone you know. Getting a referral from family or a friend is a great way to find a lawyer.

What is elder law?

Elder law is a specialized legal area focused on older adults and their adult children. This legal specialty focuses on specific needs, including: Power of attorney and other important legal documents. Long term care planning and paying for care. Medicare and Medicaid planning.

Why is elder law important?

Having the essential legal documents in place gives you the necessary legal rights to provide the best care for your older adult, now and at the end of life. That’s why it’s so important to find an expert lawyer that you trust to draw up the right documents.

Can a will be a personal representative?

These laws control who can and cannot serve as a personal representative, trustee, health care surrogate, or attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

Is elder law the same as estate law?

Elder law isn't the same thing as estate law , although they cover some of the same issues. Elder law addresses your finances and property in such a way as to best provide for you and your family while you're still alive.

Judith A. McDougall-Flynn

I would like to reiterate the earlier responses urging you to seek proper representation from an elder law attorney. I suspect that you did not go to an elder law attorney to get a properly drafted caregiver agreement as he or she would have counseled you on the appropriate rate of pay.

Dan W. Armstrong

I suggest that you get counsel from an Elder Law attorney who can discuss the many ramifications that could harm your mother in law in the future.

David Michael Goldman

Often the question is not how much she can pay you, but why you would want to receive money from her that will be taxed as ordinary income and be subject to self employment taxes ( as much as 50%).