Elder Law Overview

The attorneys of Cosner Law Group have provided indispensable legal services to the elderly for more than 35 years.  The firm has an elder law group designed specifically to cater to the needs of the elderly and their children.  Staci A. Cosner, the head of the elder law group, is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; she lectures frequently on Elder Law topics.   Set forth below is a brief overview of Elder Law and of some of the critical services we offer to our clients.  Please contact us at (732) 937-8000 for a free initial consultation to discuss how we may best serve your needs.

Elder Law – An Overview

As Americans live longer, the legal and practical concerns confronting the elderly and their families have grown increasingly complex.  At Cosner Law Group, our experienced elder law attorneys assist clients and their families navigate these issues through proper planning.  Among other things, we prepare powers of attorney and advance health care directives which ensure that proper medical treatment will be provided as needed.  Our attorneys also provide advice concerning long-term care insurance and other funding options, all of which is primarily designed to foster the most independence and security for those elderly clients who desire to remain in their homes.

Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives

Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other debilitating mental diseases are some of the all-too common problems facing our elderly clients.  Our attorneys are committed to ensuring that the needs and desires of these clients concerning potential future financial and medical decisions are met, even when the clients are unable to communicate their wishes at the time these decisions must be made.  Common legal documents that our attorneys frequently prepare for our elderly clients include powers of attorney and advance directives, or health care directives.  In these documents, the elderly client designates a person to carry out the elderly person’s financial and medical wishes.  Those wishes  – the elderly person’s financial goals, as well as his or her instructions regarding medical procedures or life-sustaining techniques that may be utilized in the future – are set forth in these legal documents.  In this fashion, Cosner Law Group enables our elderly clients to provide clear instructions to their agents – typically, though not always, family members – even after the elderly may be unable directly to communicate those instructions.

Planning for Long-Term Care

Statistics show that 70% or more of individuals over the age of 65 will need some form of long term care during their lifetime.  Statistics further show that health care, particularly long-term care, in the United States is expensive and that these costs will continue to rise.  If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that will require long-term care, we recommend that you have a long-term care plan.  Proper planning now will enable you to manage the costs of care without totally depleting your life savings.  Elderly people and their families unfortunately overlook the multi-faceted aspects of long term care planning until it is too late.  The elder law attorneys at Cosner Law Group provide skilled guidance and counseling concerning long-term care insurance, Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and other options that will be right for you and your families. With proper planning, we can help you choose the long-term care option that best fits your needs.

Guardianships and Conservatorships

It is well-known that people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other physical and mental disabilities often gradually become unable independently to care for themselves.  Even the most basic tasks, like brushing one’s teeth, getting dressed, feeding, and bathing become greatly challenging.  If this happens to a loved one, a guardianship or conservatorship may be one way to help you take care of that person.  The attorneys at Cosner Law Group can guide you through the complicated legal process that allows you to become the Court-ordered guardian or conservator for your loved one.  We can help you to ensure that your loved one will receive appropriate personal care and that his or her finances are handled properly.  In this way, our attorneys help you to maximize the quality of life for your loved one.

Help for Families of Elder Law Clients

Millions of families throughout America currently are caring for an elderly loved one.  We know that being in this caretaker role often is time consuming, expensive, and physically and mentally draining, particularly when it is added to your other family and work obligations.  Our experienced elder law attorneys have counseled many families in this position, and we can draw on that experience to provide the guidance, support and encouragement that will help you properly to care for your loved one.

Conclusion

The elder law attorneys at Cosner Law Group can provide you with the appropriate legal guidance to plan for your financial, medical and long-term care.  Contact an experienced elder law attorney at our office to set up a free initial consultation in this area.  Proper planning now will reduce the financial and emotional hardship and stress you and your loved ones will face in the future.

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Cosner Law Group
197 Highway 18, Suite 104
East Brunswick, NJ 08816

Phone: (732) 937-8000
Fax: (732) 937-5439

The New Jersey law firm of Cosner Law Group represents clients in Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union Counties, including the cities of Bedminster, Berkeley Heights, Bernardsville, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Bound Brook, East Brunswick, Edison, Freehold, Green Brook, Highland Park, Hillsborough, Jamesburg, Manville, Milltown, Monroe Township, New Brunswick, New Providence, North Brunswick, North Plainfield, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Plainfield, Sayreville, Scotch Plains, Somerset, Somerville, South Amboy, South Brunswick, South Plainfield, South River, Spotswood , Watchung, and Woodbridge. We also represent clients in the remaining parts of New Jersey and in New York.

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