Estate Planning, Wills &Trusts

Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts, an information resource.

Lynwood D. Jordan, Jr., Attorney at Law, 115 West Courthouse Square, Cumming, Georgia 30040

Elder Law

What is "elder law?"The word has come into being to encompass several disciplines. It may be seen to include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and similar areas. One area is incapacity. Elderly incapacityIf an elderly person becomes unable to manage his or her affairs, one of two different courses of action will be necessary. (1) If proper planning was done, powers of attorney, trusts, and other arrangements will take care of the problems. (2) If proper planning was not done, guardianship may be necessary.

The elderly person's rights are protected in a guardianship proceeding. Doctors' examinations are required, and a guardian ad litem (attorney) is appointed for the elderly person. (You can't just be, in most cases, "committed!")

Once a guardian is appointed, however, the procedures are cumbersome, inventories and court permission to spend money being required. It is best to plan ahead and use powers of attorney and other planning tools class="content"> Those various planning tools are treated and described on other pages of this sit class="content">This page will be expanded soon, and will have various sub-pages delving into the other areas included within the term "elder law." Check back often.