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Skelton Law Offices is an
estate planning and elder law firm providing the following legal services:
1. Estate Planning
– An “estate” is the real
and personal property owned by an individual.
Estate planning is the process of arranging for the protection and transfer
of assets in the event of incapacity or death.
Skelton Law Offices prepares wills, trusts, and
powers of attorney to accomplish our clients’ goals including, but not
limited to: naming
guardians and creating trusts for loved ones who are minors or have
disabilities; minimizing exposure to estate taxes; avoiding family conflict
and future ill-will; protecting assets from heirs’ creditors and predators;
and avoiding possible delay, expense and publicity of the probate process.
2.
Elder Law -
Elder law
focuses on the special legal needs and concerns of those over 50. Skelton
Law Offices has developed significant expertise in elder law, particularly
with counseling individuals on planning for the possibility of long-term
care and with regard to preserving assets, particularly for spouses, in the
event of the need for expensive long-term care.
3. MaineCare Planning and Applications
- The rules regarding eligibility for medical assistance are complex,
and the process of filing a MaineCare application can be tedious,
intimidating and overwhelming. Skelton Law Offices represents individuals
before the Department of Health and Human Services. The firm prepares and
files applications on behalf of applicants. In the event that an application
is denied, Skelton Law Offices represents clients on appeals of those
denials.
4. Estate Administration - Skelton
Law Offices assists families in administering a decedents’ estate. This
includes obtaining Letters of Authority for a Personal Representative and
assisting the Personal Representative in inventorying, assembling, and
distributing the assets of an estate.
5. Guardianships and Conservatorships
- Guardianships and conservatorships protect and provide for incapacitated
adults and minors. Skelton Law Offices assist families with petitions to
Probate Courts for appointment of a guardian or conservator. The firm also
represents family members who may be contesting the nomination or
appointment of an inappropriate guardian or conservator.
6. Special Needs Trusts - The
objective of any special needs trust is to allow an individual with
disabilities to become or remain eligible for means-tested benefits like
Medicaid (MaineCare) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Skelton Law
Offices prepares third-party special needs trusts and (d)(4)(A) trusts that
provide discretionary supplemental support for individuals with
disabilities. |
