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PRACTICE AREAS > Elder Law

Elder Law is defined by the client being served - primarily those over the age of 50. The Elder Law attorney works as the advocate for the senior client. The needs of this age group are unique and the practice focuses on the special considerations that must be taken into account regarding financial and other long-range planning needs. These needs include estate planning and administration, health and Medicaid planning, disability, incapacity and other long-term care issues, guardianship, conservatorship and a host of other matters.

There are many benefits of elder law planning. Some include avoiding the dissipation of life savings, protection of assets from nursing homes, providing for a surviving spouse in the event of death, preserving estate assets for heirs, and making a smooth transition upon death by having decisions made prior as to medical treatments, finances, and so on.

Earp Cohn P.C. delivers a broad range of legal services designed to address the diverse needs of its clients in this field of law. The firm has been successfully assisting seniors and their families in both PA and NJ with their essential life planning needs since 1997. Some of the areas the firm has served clients include:

• Medicaid Planning / Medicaid Applications, as well as other public benefits including social security, veterans' benefits and so on.
• Estate Planning and Document Preparation, including wills and trusts
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Disability Planning, advising parents/guardians of disabled individuals
• Guardianships, Conservatorships, Special Medical Guardianships
• Estate Litigation, nursing home law and litigation
• Special Needs Trusts
• Fiduciary Representation

Other areas of focus in the field of Elder Law include:

• Health and Personal Care Planning, including medical directives and preparation of living wills
• Legal Capacity Counseling
• Insurance Advice, including health, life, long-term disability, burial/funeral arrangements, etc.
• Resident Rights Advocacy, including advising patients on such matters as medical admissions, transfers, discharge, quality of care and so on
• Housing Counseling, including reviewing financing and housing options
• Employment and Retirement Advice, including pension, health and unemployment benefits.
• Nursing Home Claims
• Age and/or Disability Discrimination Counseling
• Income, Estate and Gift Tax Advice.
• Elder abuse and Elder fraud.

While the firm has deep resources in all related areas of expertise required to meet elder law clients' needs, Donald A. Nogowski manages the firm's Elder Law Practice Group and is the primary contact. He is accessible in the Cherry Hill, New Jersey or Philadelphia offices and will also make a "house call" to a client's residence, if it is difficult to visit either office.

Mr. Nogowski is a shareholder with the firm and has extensive experience in estate planning, tax matters, and estate administration. He represents elderly clients, clients living with significant disabilities and their families. Mr. Nogowski employs a holistic approach, helping the firm's clients to find practical solutions to the significant and complex problems that they face every day. Mr. Nogowski strives to ensure that the joint efforts of family members, care givers, case managers, health care professionals and nursing home staff are all properly coordinated, to ensure that all of the client's legal (and non-legal) needs are fully addressed. Mr. Nogowski's biography can be viewed by clicking here.

For more information or to set up a consultation, contact Donald A. Nogowski at 856-354-7700 or at dnogowski@earpcohn.com.