We Provide Solutions-Focused Estate Planning Services in Carlisle
At Keystone Elder Law P.C., our Carlisle estate planning lawyers are experienced, compassionate, and reliable advocates for people and families. It is our mission to help you and your loved one find true peace and security through proactive planning. If you have any questions or concerns about estate planning, we are here to help. Contact our Carlisle estate planning lawyers today for your completely confidential, no obligation initial consultation.
An Overview of Our Estate Planning Services in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Keystone Elder Law P.C. is a boutique law firm that provides a full range of estate planning services to people and families in Central Pennsylvania, including right here in Carlisle. Our goal is to help you find the estate planning solution that actually works. Estate planning is not only about preparing for the future. It is also about reducing uncertainty in the present. Every client comes to us with unique circumstances. We always work to craft personalized plans that reflect their values and priorities. Along with other estate planning services, we help clients in Carlisle with:
- Wills: You should have a last will and testament. Indeed, a will is the foundation of most estate plans. Among other things, it determines who receives property and who manages the estate after death. Without a will, you can be declared intestate, and it will be Pennsylvania law that controls distribution. There are legal requirements for a valid will (20 Pa. C.S. § 2501). We draft clear wills that reflect your true intentions. Call our Carlisle estate planning lawyer today for help with your will.
- Trusts: A trust is a flexible tool that can manage and distribute assets during life and after death. It offers privacy, avoids probate, and many provide other benefits, such as asset protection. We have experience setting up all types of trusts. If you have any questions or concerns about trust planning, our Carlisle, PA estate planning lawyers will help.
- Powers of Attorney: A power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to make financial or health decisions if you cannot. Without it, your family may face costly and time-consuming court proceedings. We prepare durable powers of attorney that grant authority while respecting your wishes and your personal autonomy and comply with the Commonwealth’s statutory requirements for POA (20 Pa. C.S. § 5601). If you have any questions about POA in Pennsylvania, our Carlisle estate planning lawyers are here as a legal resource.
- Asset Protection: Asset protection matters. It is too often overlooked by middle-class families in Carlisle. The reality is that aging comes with many different threats/risks to your wealth. We develop lawful strategies that preserve wealth for you and your family. Our approach balances security with flexibility. If you have questions about asset protection, please do not hesitate to contact our Carlisle estate planning lawyer for help.
- Long-Term Care/Medicaid: The cost of nursing care can overwhelm families. Medicaid can help, but eligibility rules are strict. We guide clients through the application process and help preserve assets while qualifying. Our firm provides proactive long-term care planning and Medicaid crisis planning that is designed to help protect your assets. If you have any questions, our Carlisle, PA estate planning lawyers are more than happy to help.
- Special Needs Planning: If you have a special needs loved one, there are some specialized estate planning considerations to be aware of. Improper transfers can cause a loss of government benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. A special needs trust can be the solution. We establish special needs trusts that provide support without hurting your loved one’s eligibility. Our Carlisle estate planning attorneys handle all aspects of special needs planning.
- Probate Law: Probate is the legal process of settling an estate after death. It involves validating a will, paying debts, and distributing property. Many families find probate confusing and stressful. We represent executors and families through every step. Our Carlisle attorneys are well-versed in Pennsylvania’s probate process.
How Our Carlisle, PA Estate Planning Attorney Can Help
Estate planning is complicated. You do not have to figure out everything on your own. At Keystone Elder Law P.C., we provide proactive, solutions-focused estate planning services that are designed to help people and families get security, protection, and lasting peace of mind. Our client testimonials tell the story. When you contact us, you will have an opportunity to work directly with a Carlisle, PA estate planning attorney who can:
- Hear your story and answer your estate planning questions;
- Help you gather and organize supporting information;
- Handle all of the estate planning paperwork; and
- Develop a comprehensive strategy focused on protecting your best interests.
Estate Planning in Carlisle, PA: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can serve as an executor in Pennsylvania?
As a matter of law, any competent adult who is not disqualified by law may serve. Courts generally appoint the person named in the will. If no will exists, the Orphans’ Court selects a qualified administrator. You should use your will to appoint a reliable executor.
Do I need an attorney to make a valid will in Pennsylvania?
No, not legally. Pennsylvania does not require an attorney to draft a will. However, wills must meet strict legal requirements to be valid. For that reason, it is highly recommended that your will is drafted by an experienced attorney.
How are joint tenancy and tenancy by the entirety treated in Pennsylvania?
Property held jointly with survivorship passes automatically to the surviving owner. Married couples often use tenancy by the entirety for added creditor protection. A Carlisle, PA estate planning lawyer for married couples can help you navigate the law.
Contact Our Carlisle Estate Planning Lawyers for Your Confidential Consultation
At Keystone Elder Law P.C., our Carlisle estate planning attorney is prepared to invest the time and resources to help you develop a personalized plan that meets your needs. If you have any questions about estate planning, we are here as a legal resource. Call us at (717) 697-3223 or contact us online for a completely confidential, no obligation initial consultation. We provide estate planning services in Carlisle, Cumberland County, and throughout the wider region in Central Pennsylvania.
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REGISTER HERE for LONG-TERM CARE PLANNINGPower of Attorney
A Power of Attorney can be used to give another person the right to sell a car, home, or other property in the place of the maker of the Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney might be used to allow another person to sign a contract for the maker of the Power of Attorney (the person who makes a power of attorney is called the “principal”). It can be used to give another person the authority to make health care decisions, do financial transactions, or sign legal documents that the principal cannot do for one reason or another. With few exceptions, Powers of Attorney can give others the right to do any legal acts that the makers of the Powers of Attorney could do them themselves. A General Power of Attorney gives the “power of attorney Agent” or simply “Agent” (the legal name of the person who is authorized to act for the principal) very broad powers to do almost every legal act that the principal can do. When Elder Law Attorneys draft general Powers of Attorney, they still list the types of things the Agent can do but these powers are very broad. People often do general Powers of Attorney to plan ahead for the day when they may not be able to take care of things themselves. By doing the General Power of Attorney, they designate someone who can do these things for them.
Normal Powers of Attorney terminate if and when the principal becomes incompetent. Yet many people do Powers of Attorney for the sole purpose of designating someone else to act for them if they cannot act for themselves. It is precisely when persons can no longer do for themselves that a Power of Attorney is most valuable. To remedy this inconsistency, the law created a Durable Power of Attorney that remains effective even if a person becomes incompetent. The only thing that distinguishes a Durable Power of Attorney from a regular Power of Attorney is special wording that states that the power survives the principal’s incapacity. Even a Durable Power of Attorney, however, may be terminated under certain circumstances if court proceedings are filed. Most Powers of Attorney done today are durable.
Yes. At the time the Power of Attorney is signed, the principal must be capable of understanding the document. Although a Power of Attorney is still valid if and when a person becomes incompetent, the principal must understand what he or she is signing at the moment of execution. That means a person can be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease or be otherwise incompetent sometimes but as long as they have a lucid moment and are competent at the moment they sign the Power of Attorney, it is valid even if they do not remember signing it at a later date. At the time it is signed, the principal must know what the Power of Attorney does, whom they are giving the Power of Attorney to, and what property may be affected by the Power of Attorney.
Any competent person eighteen years of age and older can serve as an agent. Certain financial institutions can also serve. There is no course of education that agent must complete or any test that Agent must pass. Because a Power of Attorney is such a potentially powerful document, agents should be chosen for reliability and trustworthiness. In the wrong hands, a Power of Attorney can be a license to steal. It can be a big responsibility to serve as an agent.
For Medicaid
Medicare is health insurance and covers medical services such as physician appointments, therapy, blood tests, x rays, medical procedures and hospitalization. Medicare will sometime pay for rehabilitation in a long-term care facility for a period of 20 to 100 days, but not longer. In long-term care, Medicaid covers the cost of ongoing support services for daily functioning, such as room and board in a nursing home.
Medicaid is a federal program that is overseen by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance and is administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid funds are not available to pay for assisted living or personal care.
For Medicaid to pay for care in a nursing home, an individual recipient must be determined to need a nursing home level of care by a physician and the local Office of Aging. An individual whose income is not greater than three times the poverty level may keep up to $8,000 of total resources, but may otherwise keep only $2,400. The cash value of life insurance counts as a resource, but one car and a residential home does not count as a resource.
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Empowering Clients with Holistic Planning at
Keystone Elder Law
At Keystone Elder Law, we believe that the physical, social, legal, and financial considerations of our clients all intertwine. We utilize an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate each area, which allows for the creation of a plan that addresses the concerns of the individual as a whole as well as the family. To this end, our model of practice includes a Care Coordinator (usually a nurse or social worker), whose expertise complements our team of attorneys.
When the road of life is smooth, decisions about legal and financial matters are easy to push aside for “a rainy day.” Planning ahead, however, will allow for more options as you view the map of where you’ve been and where you want to go. Don’t let a crisis limit your choices or derail your plans.
(717) 697-3223