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Elder Law

Elder Law

Some transitions are expected.

Others arrive without warning.

Some transitions are expected.

Others arrive without warning.

Elder law is about planning for the unexpected changes that can

come with aging or special needs, before a crisis limits

your choices. Whether you are planning for yourself or helping

someone you love, the decisions can involve your care, your

independence, your finances, your property, and the people you trust

to help you. We help you understand the legal and planning

options available so you can make informed decisions
about what comes next.

Elder law is about planning for the unexpected changes that can come with aging or special needs, before a crisis limits your choices. Whether you are planning for yourself or helping someone you love, the decisions can involve your care, your independence, your finances, your property, and the people you trust to help you. We help you understand the legal and planning options available so you can make informed decisions about what comes next.

Planning That Fits

Your Life

Planning

That Fits Your Life

Life is different for everyone, and there is no single plan that

works for everyone. What makes sense for you depends on

your circumstances, the people who matter to you, what you have

worked to build, and what you want your plan to accomplish.

The goal is not simply to put legal documents in place. It is to put the

right plan in place for you.

Life is different for everyone, and there is no single plan that works for everyone. What makes sense for you depends on your circumstances, the people who matter to you, what you have worked to build, and what you want your plan to accomplish. The goal is not simply to put legal documents in place. It is to put the right plan in place for you.

Our Approach

Our

Approach

We don't begin by telling you what you should do.
We begin by listening. Tell us what brought you here, what concerns you,
and what you hope to accomplish.

From there, we explain the options available to you,
help you understand the advantages and limitations of those options,
and work with you to decide what makes sense for you.

We don't begin by telling you what you should do. We begin by listening. Tell us what brought you here, what concerns you, and what you hope to accomplish.

From there, we explain the options available to you, help you understand the advantages and limitations of those options, and work with you to decide what
makes sense for you.

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Planning Ahead

Choosing the

Right Tools

These are your choices, and you are in control. There is no single estate plan that works for everyone. The right tools depend on what you own, who you want to provide for, and what you want your plan to accomplish. Wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, beneficiary designations, deeds, trusts, and other planning tools can be used individually or together to put your plan in place.

These are your choices, and you are in control. There is no single estate plan that works for everyone. The right tools depend on what you own, who you want to provide for, and what you want your plan to accomplish. Wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, beneficiary designations, deeds, trusts, and other planning tools can be used individually or together to put your plan in place.

Medicaid Planning

Medicaid Planning

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There is a common misconception that Medicaid is only for people who have little or nothing. That is not the whole story. Medicaid includes different programs with different eligibility rules, and it is also one of the primary ways long-term care is paid for in the United States.

You may have worked and saved throughout your life and still find that the cost of long-term care is more than you can reasonably afford on your own. Medicaid planning is about understanding what benefits may be available, what the eligibility rules require, and what lawful planning options you may have. We help individuals and families understand those rules, evaluate their options, and determine whether Medicaid can be part of a plan for obtaining the care they need while preserving the choices available to them.

There is a common misconception that Medicaid is only for people who have little or nothing. That is not the whole story. Medicaid includes different programs with different eligibility rules, and it is also one of the primary ways long-term care is paid for in the United States.

You may have worked and saved throughout your life and still find that the cost of long-term care is more than you can reasonably afford on your own. Medicaid planning is about understanding what benefits may be available, what the eligibility rules require, and what lawful planning options you may have. We help individuals and families understand those rules, evaluate their options, and determine whether Medicaid can be part of a plan for obtaining the care they need while preserving the choices available to them.

Asset Protection

Avoiding

Unnecessary Probate

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Protecting assets is not about hiding them. It is about understanding the legal tools available to preserve what you have worked hard to build. Depending on your circumstances and goals, proper planning may help protect assets for yourself, your spouse or others, or protect property you hope to pass on to future generations.

Protecting assets is not about hiding them. It is about understanding the legal tools available to preserve what you have worked hard to build. Depending on your circumstances and goals, proper planning may help protect assets for yourself, your spouse or others, or protect property you hope to pass on to future generations.

Protecting Your Independence

Protecting Your

Independence

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Life can change unexpectedly. Protecting your independence does not always mean doing everything yourself. Sometimes it means choosing who you trust to help when help is needed. Powers of attorney, advance directives, HIPAA authorizations, and other planning documents can give someone you choose authority to assist with certain decisions when you cannot, without taking control away from you before it is necessary.

Life can change unexpectedly. Protecting your independence does not always mean doing everything yourself. Sometimes it means choosing who you trust to help when help is needed. Powers of attorney, advance directives, HIPAA authorizations, and other planning documents can give someone you choose authority to assist with certain decisions when you cannot, without taking control away from you before it is necessary.

Long-Term Care

Options & Placement

Long-Term Care

Options & Placement

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Where and how you receive care can affect your independence, finances, and quality of life. Long-term care is not limited to nursing facilities. Depending on your needs and eligibility, care may be provided at home, through community-based programs, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility. We help clients and families understand the available options and the legal and financial issues that may affect those choices.

Where and how you receive care can affect your independence, finances, and quality of life. Long-term care is not limited to nursing facilities. Depending on your needs and eligibility, care may be provided at home, through community-based programs, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility. We help clients and families understand the available options and the legal and financial issues that may affect those choices.

VA Aid & Attendance Planning

VA Aid &

Attendance Planning

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You or your spouse may have served our country, and that service may provide access to benefits that can help when care is needed later in life. VA Aid & Attendance may provide additional monthly benefits to eligible veterans and surviving spouses who need help with everyday activities and personal care. Many families simply do not know that this benefit exists or whether they may qualify. We help you understand what benefits may be available, how they can help with the cost of care, and how VA benefits can fit into your overall long-term care plan.

You or your spouse may have served our country, and that service may provide access to benefits that can help when care is needed later in life. VA Aid & Attendance may provide additional monthly benefits to eligible veterans and surviving spouses who need help with everyday activities and personal care. Many families simply do not know that this benefit exists or whether they may qualify. We help you understand what benefits may be available, how they can help with the cost of care, and how VA benefits can fit into your overall long-term care plan.

Solo Care Planning

Solo Care Planning

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You may be single, live alone, or simply not have a spouse or adult children you can depend on as you get older. You may be wondering: Who will help me if I get sick? Who will make decisions for me if I can't? And who will make sure the plan I put in place works? You don't have to wait until something happens to figure this out. Solo care planning helps you decide who you trust, who can step in when help is needed, how your care will be managed, and what support you may need to remain as independent as possible. The key is putting that plan in place while the choices are still yours to make.

You may be single, live alone, or simply not have a spouse or adult children you can depend on as you get older. You may be wondering: Who will help me if I get sick? Who will make decisions for me if I can't? And who will make sure the plan I put in place works? You don't have to wait until something happens to figure this out. Solo care planning helps you decide who you trust, who can step in when help is needed, how your care will be managed, and what support you may need to remain as independent as possible. The key is putting that plan in place while the choices are still yours to make.

Special Needs Planning

Special Needs Planning

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You may have a child or other loved one with special needs, and you want to make sure they are properly cared for if there comes a time when you cannot be there for them. Providing for a loved one with a disability requires careful planning. An inheritance, gift, settlement, or other assets received without the right planning can affect eligibility for certain means-tested public benefits.

The goal is to make sure the person you love is provided for without unintentionally putting important benefits at risk. We help you understand the choices available and put a plan in place that makes sense for your family. That plan may include a special needs trust, an ABLE account, or other estate planning tools that allow you to provide for your loved one while protecting the benefits they may need.

You may have a child or other loved one with special needs, and you want to make sure they are properly cared for if there comes a time when you cannot be there for them. Providing for a loved one with a disability requires careful planning. An inheritance, gift, settlement, or other assets received without the right planning can affect eligibility for certain means-tested public benefits.

The goal is to make sure the person you love is provided for without unintentionally putting important benefits at risk. We help you understand the choices available and put a plan in place that makes sense for your family. That plan may include a special needs trust, an ABLE account, or other estate planning tools that allow you to provide for your loved one while protecting the benefits they may need.

We Get It.

Life Changes Can Be Hard.

We Get It. Life

Changes

Can Be Hard.

You don't have to do this alone. You don't have to
know exactly what you need. You just need to have a question
and reach out to us. Tell us what brought you here and what you're
concerned about. We'll help you decide
where to go from there.

You don't have to do this alone. You don't have to know exactly what you need. You just need to have a question
and reach out to us. Tell us what brought you here and what you're
concerned about. We'll help you decide where to go from there.

Client

Client

Experience

Experience

Client experiences and results vary.

Past results do not guarantee or predict

a similar outcome in any future matter.

Client experiences and results vary.

Past results do not guarantee or predict

a similar outcome in any future matter.

Angela N.

Angela N.

“I was 59 years old when I had a stroke and ended up in a nursing home in D.C. for two years. I kept trying to get help to leave the nursing home, but I couldn't find it.


Finally, my family found Ms. Braxton. Within six weeks of working on my case, she helped me with my application for a long-term, community-based Medicaid waiver so I could qualify for services and a home health aide in the community. With her help, I qualified for community-based Medicaid services, and her office helped me locate a beautiful subsidized senior apartment based on my income. I couldn't have done this without her help.

She helped me get my independence back.”

“I was 59 years old when I had a stroke and ended up in a nursing home in D.C. for two years. I kept trying to get help to leave the nursing home, but I couldn't find it.


Finally, my family found Ms. Braxton. Within six weeks of working on my case, she helped me with my application for a long-term, community-based Medicaid waiver so I could qualify for services and a home health aide in the community. With her help, I qualified for community-based Medicaid services, and her office helped me locate a beautiful subsidized senior apartment based on my income. I couldn't have done this without her help.

She helped me get my independence back.”

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Elder Law

Elder Law