Partners in Planning for Nursing Home and Elder Issues for Over 20 Years

Elder Law Attorney in Palos Heights, Illinois

For the past 20 years, we have guided elderly individuals and their families in Palos Heights and the southwest suburbs of Chicago through the legal processes involved with Medicaid, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and guardianships. We will review your particular medical, legal and financial circumstances to come up with a plan that protects your hard-earned assets while ensuring the well-being and quality care for yourself or your elderly loved one.

Paul A. Smolinski, Ltd. - Call us at 708-377-3860, toll-free at 866-207-4904 or e-mail us today

Medicaid

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be costly. How long will you be able to afford the care you need? Medicaid is a federally-sponsored "needs based" program. Sometimes people think that they need to "spend down" their life savings in order to qualify for Medicaid. But you don't have to.

We can help preserve your assets through various means, including gifting your assets 60 months before applying for Medicaid. In Illinois, certain assets and properties are exempt from the "spend down" requirement. See our Estate Planning Q & A page for more details.

We can also help you understand the contracts and policies at nursing homes and assisted living facilities to make an informed decision about your future care.

Estate Planning

It may seem like you can put off estate planning for a later date, but planning for the future while you are still able to make your own decisions can help your family avoid the burden of decision-making and the lengthy probate process. Contact us to establish living trusts, health care powers of attorney, property powers of attorney, and last wills and testaments.

Asset Protection

We can help you take steps to protect a lifetime of hard-earned assets. We will work closely with you to determine your and your family's liabilities and recommend options for asset transfers that can let your children and grandchildren maintain financial independence. We offer knowledgeable guidance on methods including gifting, change of real estate title, irrevocable trusts and special needs trusts.

Guardianships

When an elderly person does not have a power of attorney in place and becomes physically or mentally incapable of making their own medical or financial decisions, who will make these decisions for them? We offer experienced and compassionate counsel to individuals and families seeking to establish guardianships for an elder loved one.

If everyone agrees on who should become the guardian, we will go to probate court to get the legal authority needed. If your family cannot agree on who should serve this role, we will represent you in litigation. We help you either seek appointment or contest another person's claim to guardianship.

Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

We understand that policies and contracts for nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be complicated and difficult to understand. How will you know what is best for the elderly member of your family? We will help you interpret these contracts so you can fully understand what is at stake for the elderly member of your family, and for you.

Real Lawyers Helping Real People with Real Life Problems

Contact us today to discuss your elder law needs. We are located across the street from Baker's Square on West 127th Street in Palos Heights. We are open 9 to 5 weekdays. Weekend and evening appointments are also available. If you are unable to come to our office, we can arrange to meet you at home, in the hospital or other care facility.

Paul A. Smolinski, Ltd.
6446 West 127th Street
Suite 201
Palos Heights, IL 60463
Telephone: 708-377-3860
Toll-free: 866-207-4904
Fax: 708-371-9502
Site Disclaimer

Paul A. Smolinski, Ltd. represents clients in Elder Law and Estate Planning in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, including Palos Heights, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Homer Glen, Crestwood and Tinley Park, Illinois, and in Cook County and Will County.

Printer Friendly View