Services

Good planning is not just about what happens if you die, but rather what happens if you live and you are not able to take care of yourself or your assets. Your goal should be to put a plan in place so that you can have peace of mind knowing your affairs are in order. We want our clients to have that good feeling knowing that they will retain control of their property as long as they remain healthy and protect their family and their assets if they are ill. Effective Life and Death planning looks at all issues, from death and disability to Nursing Home care and Medicaid options.

Elder Law encompasses many different areas, including: long-term care planning, assisted living, home care, retirement, and healthcare issues. As an elder law attorney, Bill Siebers is dedicated to helping the elderly and their loved ones. Having personally experienced loved ones go through this elder care journey, Bill will guide you and your family to solutions for the complicated issues that relate to aging and disability.

Planning for a loved one with a life threatening illness is stressful. Taking the proper planning steps, however, can actually provide great peace of mind to you and your family. Let us assist you to learn more about the steps you should take to ensure that your loved one’s wishes will be followed.

Alzheimer’s disease takes an emotional and financial toll on the family. Studies have shown that lifetime care costs for caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease exceed $300,000! With such high costs, taking proper planning steps to ensure a high standard of care is absolutely essential. We can help reveal the steps you should be taking right now to protect your loved one and regain the peace of mind for yourself and your family.

If you have a child or a loved one with a physical, emotional, or medical issue resulting in a disability, Special Needs Planning should be considered.

Have you ever wondered who will take care of or provide for your child with special needs after you are gone, disabled or even unable to care for yourself? How do you financially help your loved one with special needs without affecting their government benefits? How do you plan for the care of your loved one with special needs, but also plan for you and your spouse?  We can help you solve these questions. Our goal is to help you plan for the future and security of your loved one with a disability and plan for yourself too.

Powers of attorney for health care and property/financial decisions allow you to decide which family member or trusted friend will have the legal authority to carry out your wishes, if you can no longer speak or act for yourself. If you do not have power of attorney, or if your powers of attorney are not drafted properly and something happens that results in your inability to make decisions, your loved ones may later face costly court proceedings and court-supervised guardianship and/or conservatorship.

Your loved one needs a power of attorney that allows their agent (helper) to be able to take action to protect them and their loved ones. They need powerful documents, which authorize their loved ones to change the way your assets are held so as to provide the best protection for them and their healthy spouse when they need long term care.

Individuals work a lifetime at accumulating assets, personal property and mementos. It only takes a little time to make sure those valued items pass on to your loved ones. If executed correctly, a Last Will and Testament can clearly state your wishes and ensure they are carried out.

Depending on your situation, a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust may be more appropriate. A trust, like a will, is a legal document that includes instructions regarding what should be done with your assets when you die. The key difference between the two is that a trust prevents the assets from being probated (tied up in the court system) at your death - a Will does not.

There are lots of issues to consider when deciding if a Will or a Trust is right for you. We help our clients assess their individual situations and to understand their options based on current laws. 
Estate Administration & Probate

When an individual who has written a Will dies, owning property solely in his/her name, a formal court procedure ("probate") may be required to confirm to whom the property passes.  If the person dies without a Will, the property also goes through probate court and will pass to the individual's heirs at law. The state laws determine who the individual's heirs are and what they receive. Keep in mind that although it is often beneficial to avoid probate, because it can be costly and time consuming, probate is sometimes the best option. We have years of experience dealing with probate and we can examine your specific situation and advise you and your loved ones on what is best for your family.

When an individual who has written a Will dies, owning property solely in his/her name, a formal court procedure ("probate") may be required to confirm to whom the property passes.  If the person dies without a Will, the property also goes through probate court and will pass to the individual's heirs at law. The state laws determine who the individual's heirs are and what they receive. Keep in mind that although it is often beneficial to avoid probate, because it can be costly and time consuming, probate is sometimes the best option. We have years of experience dealing with probate and we can examine your specific situation and advise you and your loved ones on what is best for your family.