Elder law attorneys are lawyers who specialize in helping seniors with a variety of legal issues. The specialty of “elder law” evolved in the 1980s as it became increasingly clear that the complicated legal issues confronting seniors — in particular qualifying for Medicaid coverage of nursing home care — were beyond the expertise of general-practice

Gifting assets to your grandchildren can do more than help your descendants get a good start in life; it can also reduce the size of your estate and the tax that will be due upon your death. Perhaps the simplest approach to gifting is to give the grandchild an outright gift. You may give each

Ilion, NY (April 2, 2012)- When talking about estate and long-term care planning, a frequent question people ask is “how long should I keep financial records?” Jeff Rheinhardt, attorney with Rheinhardt & Bray, PC, an elder law and estate-planning firm with offices in Ilion and Rome, says it depends. “I hate to sound like a

Is seems right that they should go together. Unfortunately older Americans and elder law do not go together as often as they should, according to Jeff Rheinhardt of the Ilion elder law firm, Rheinhardt & Bray, PC. So what are the reasons most cited for not seeing a lawyer? One reason is because people are

Christopher R. Bray of Law offices of Rheinhardt & Bray, P.C, has joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. ( NAELA). Membership in the academy is open to licensed attorneys who are practicing in the area of Elder Law or who are interested in legal issues pertaining to the elderly. Established in 1987,

Ilion, NY- For many of us, a time comes when the “writing is on the wall” regarding the need for long-term care. A spouse or parent begins to experience declining health or cognitive impairment. They are able to stay at home, at least for the time being, only because the other spouse or child is

You have decided that an irrevocable trust is an appropriate choice for you for estate and long-term care planning. You have an idea of how much of your estate you want to transfer to your trust but are not sure what assets are the right ones. Although everyone’s circumstances and goals are unique, for most

Caring for an elderly parent can be stressful for families. Siblings may disagree over how to provide care or where a parent will live, and if these squabbles escalate into a guardianship battle, it can cost the family thousands of dollars. To avoid this, lawyers have begun drafting sibling agreements (also called family care agreements).