What is Elder Law

Isn't everyone an expert? It certainly feels that way when you watch the various ads out there. Before you place your entire estate in the hands of a company, learn what their actual experience consists of. For attorneys to be considered experts in their field, they must obtain Board Certification. Only about 5,000 of the over 101,000 licensed Florida attorneys have obtained Board Certification. Jason Waddell was one of the first 100 in the field of Elder Law to obtain this certification. To reach this point, you must prove you have handled a narrow type of case for 5 years or more, attended a set amount of continuing education classes, received recommendations from your peers, and passed a comprehensive examination.

As one enters retirement, their focus is on all the additional time they will have to accomplish the things they lacked time for previously. While retirement can (and should) provide an opportunity to accomplish such goals, a diligent individual should continue to plan for their future just as they did prior to retirement. Instead of planning for a day when the wage-earning years are over, the plan should become for a day when the need for additional help outweighs the resources available. Throughout the United States, the three common fears among retirees are being a burden on their family, being placed in a facility, and becoming broke due to high medical costs. Through education and planning, these fears are something that could be moved down the list or done away with altogether.

When approaching one’s future through long-term care planning, it is important to look at the interplay between finances, housing, possible assistance, support, and legal documentation necessary to implement a plan. Having a great deal of one doesn’t always balance out the rest. It is important to understand where you have strengths AND weaknesses. With this knowledge, one can reasonably take steps to offset one's weaknesses. Few people in America are weak in all areas.