Stuart Attorneys Protecting Florida's Aging and Special Needs Residents

Personalized legal services for the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches

Older Floridians and their families often face complicated financial, medical and residential issues. Similarly, the aging parents of a special needs adult must make arrangements to safeguard their offspring’s health and welfare. At McCarthy, Summers, Wood, Norman, Melby & Schultz, P.A., our concerned attorneys share their knowledge and experience with clients coping with some of life’s most difficult decisions. Nicola J. Melby, Board Certified in Elder Law by the Florida Bar and the National Elder Law Foundation, leads our Elder Law division, which also features Ross C. Alagna. Our elder care and special needs lawyers provide advice and legal assistance on important matters, including:

Our goal is to implement the proper combination of estate planning instruments to safeguard your health and welfare during old age.

Facilitating housing and healthcare options for the elderly

There are many choices to be made regarding where elderly relatives will live, who will care for them, and what kind of health care they will receive. McCarthy, Summers, Wood, Norman, Melby & Schultz, P.A. can help advise you on the pros and cons of housing and healthcare decisions, including:

We understand that these are difficult topics for discussion, and we are committed to demonstrating the utmost sensitivity and respect.

What is a special needs trust?

Developmentally disabled or physically disabled adults who cannot support or care for themselves generally receive care from family members. Elderly parents of special needs adults have to consider what happens to their child when they pass on. Simply allowing the child to inherit a lump sum is not going to meet that child’s needs. In fact, such a bequest could disqualify the recipient from government disability benefits they desperately need. The answer to this problem is a special needs trust. The trust is an entity that holds assets for the benefit of the special needs beneficiary, but is administered by a competent fiduciary. Since the trust, not the beneficiary, controls the assets, any payments can be managed so as not to exceed the income permissible under federal benefits programs. We also advise naming a guardian, conservator, or trustee surrogate for your loved one with special needs.

Trust our attorneys in Stuart, Florida to serve for your elderly and special needs loved ones

At McCarthy, Summers, Wood, Norman, Melby & Schultz, P.A., we provide highly-professional legal services for the elderly and clients with special needs. We work closely with you to address all your concerns. For compassionate assistance anywhere along the Treasure Coast, contact the firm online or call us at 772-286-1700.