As we age, thoughtful legal planning becomes essential to protect our health, finances, and loved ones. At Borakove Osman LLC, we assist Wisconsin seniors and their families with comprehensive elder planning services tailored to their unique needs. From long-term care planning and asset protection to powers of attorney and Medicaid eligibility, our attorneys provide clear, compassionate guidance every step of the way. We’re here to help you prepare for the future with confidence and security.
Comprehensive Elder Planning Services
Our approach to elder planning begins with listening. We take the time to understand your current situation and long-term goals so we can offer thoughtful, tailored solutions that support your needs and values. Our services address a wide range of concerns, including:
- Asset Protection – Strategies to safeguard your hard-earned wealth for yourself and your loved ones.
- Healthcare Planning – Preparation of advanced medical directives to ensure your healthcare wishes are honored.
- Long-Term Care Planning – Guidance on options for assisted living, nursing care, or in-home support services.
- Medicaid Planning – Structuring assets through tools such as irrevocable trusts to help preserve eligibility for government benefits.
- Trust Creation – Establishing specialized trusts, such as special needs or spendthrift trusts, to address unique family or financial concerns.
- Conservatorships & Guardianships – Legal arrangements to protect those who can no longer manage their own affairs.
Many of our older clients come to us without an existing estate plan, or with one created years ago that no longer reflects their current needs. Wherever you’re starting from, we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.
Essential Documents for Incapacity Planning
Regardless of age, everyone should have a plan in place for unexpected incapacity. However, these foundational documents are especially important for older adults, who are statistically more likely to need them sooner:
- Durable Power of Attorney – Appoints a trusted person to handle your financial and legal affairs if you become unable to do so yourself.
- Health Care Proxy – Designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to communicate.
- Advance Directive (Living Will) – Expresses your preferences for end-of-life care, such as whether you wish to be intubated, receive artificial nutrition, or be resuscitated.
- HIPAA Release Form – Authorizes specific individuals to access your private medical information when you’re unable to grant consent.
Trusts Are a Strategic Tool in Elder Planning
For many individuals, particularly those with substantial or complex estates, trusts can play a vital role in an effective elder planning strategy. Through thoughtful consultation, our clients often discover that a trust-based estate plan offers several key benefits tailored to their unique circumstances.
Avoiding Probate
Assets placed in a revocable living trust can bypass the probate process entirely, saving your loved ones time, expense, and unnecessary stress.
Preserving Privacy
Unlike a will, which becomes part of the public record during probate, a trust keeps the details of your estate confidential, offering your family greater privacy.
Flexible and Customizable Planning
Trusts can be structured to serve many goals, from managing distributions for minor children to protecting assets from creditors or supporting loved ones with special needs.
Whether your goal is efficiency, discretion, or enhanced control over how your legacy is managed, a trust may be an invaluable part of your elder planning strategy.
Planning for Long-Term Care and Medicaid Eligibility
Planning for long-term care may be uncomfortable, but it’s essential to protecting your health, your finances, and your family’s peace of mind. Our attorneys understand how overwhelming this topic can be and are here to help you make informed decisions with confidence and compassion.
Many clients are surprised to learn that Medicare does not cover long-term nursing home care. While some individuals can afford private facilities or full-time home care, most cannot. That’s why we discuss all available options, including long-term care insurance and the potential benefits of setting up a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT).
A MAPT can allow you to preserve your assets while maintaining Medicaid eligibility, but timing is critical. Because Medicaid has a five-year lookback period, advance planning is key. The sooner you begin, the more choices and protections you’ll have.
Contact Our Experienced Elder Planning Attorneys in Madison & Dane County
Whether you are seeking legal counsel in your role as caretaker of an older relative or are looking for an elder planning lawyer to create, update, or revise your current estate plan, the attorneys at Borakove Osman LLC are a wise choice. We have the comprehensive legal knowledge to clarify your options and the skill set, patience, and personal concern to put your mind to rest.
Borakove Osman, LLC is your trusted partner for elder planning and Medicaid planning in Wisconsin. Serving all of Wisconsin, including Madison and Dane County, we are dedicated to providing high-quality legal advice and representation to help you secure your family’s future.