ELDER LAW ATTORNEY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO: PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS AND SECURING YOUR FUTURE
Elder law is about safeguarding your assets and ensuring quality care as you age. Our law firm helps individuals and couples, typically 65 and older, protect their life savings from potentially devastating long-term care costs. We specialize in strategies that allow you to maintain your quality of life while qualifying for essential benefits like Medicaid.
Why Choose Us for Elder Law Services in Columbus
- Over 30 years of experience in elder law and asset protection
- Personalized service from a small, boutique firm
- Expertise in both pre-planning and crisis-planning scenarios
- Proven track record of sheltering assets for clients
- In-depth knowledge of Medicaid rules and regulations
- Customer-centric approach, going above and beyond for our clients
- Commitment to maintaining clients’ dignity and quality of life throughout the process
“Elder law isn’t just about legal documents; it’s about securing your financial future and peace of mind. When we do pre-planning, we can often shelter 70-80% of a couple’s assets. Even in crisis situations, we typically protect about 60%. This can mean the difference between a spouse becoming destitute and maintaining their quality of life. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about preserving dignity and security for families facing difficult transitions.”
– Dirk Winkler
OUR PRICING STRUCTURE
Our fees vary based on the complexity of your case. Typically, our asset protection trusts start at $5,500, while standard estate planning services begin at $3,500.
OUR COMPREHENSIVE 7-STEP ELDER LAW PROCESS
- Initial 15-minute phone consultation to understand your situation
- Complete and return our Estate Planning Questionnaire
- Attend a 60-minute in-depth meeting (fee: $250) to discuss your needs and goals
- Receive our customized recommendations and pricing
- Sign the representation agreement and pay an initial fee
- Conduct a detailed planning meeting to gather all necessary information and develop a customized asset protection plan
- Execute the plan, which may include creating new, more comprehensive legal documents (e.g., enhanced power of attorney) and setting up irrevocable trusts
WE ALSO SUPPORT OUR CLIENTS WITH:
MEDICAID
PRE-PLANNING
Structuring assets to comply with Medicaid rules, ideally done 5 years before needing care.
MEDICAID
CRISIS PLANNING
Rapid asset protection when immediate care is needed, typically sheltering about 60% of assets.
ASSET PROTECTION
TRUSTS
Irrevocable trusts designed to protect assets from being counted for Medicaid eligibility.
FINANCIAL EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR ELDER LAW SERVICES CAN HELP
PRE-PLANNING SCENARIO
John and Mary have a combined net worth of $1.5 million. By implementing our asset protection plan five years before needing long-term care, we were able to shelter $1.2 million in an irrevocable trust. When John later required nursing home care, instead of spending their entire savings, they only needed to spend $250,000 on care before qualifying for Medicaid. This allowed Mary to maintain her quality of life and financial security, saving the couple nearly $1 million.
CRISIS PLANNING SCENARIO
Tom and Susan have $500,000 in assets when Tom suddenly requires immediate long-term care. Without planning, they would need to spend down to $158,000 (plus their house) before qualifying for Medicaid. With our crisis planning strategy, we were able to shelter 60% of their assets ($300,000) and spend down only $200,000. This approach saved the couple $100,000 and ensured Susan had sufficient funds to maintain her lifestyle.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-PLANNING
While crisis planning can still yield significant savings, pre-planning is always the better option. If Tom and Susan had started planning five years earlier, they could have potentially sheltered up to 80% of their assets ($400,000) instead of 60% ($300,000). This additional 20% protection would have saved them an extra $100,000, bringing their total savings to $200,000 compared to no planning at all. This demonstrates how early action can dramatically increase the effectiveness of asset protection strategies.