Western North Carolina attracts many retirees who want to enjoy our beautiful mountains. Whether you’re planning your retirement or planning to enter a nursing home, caring for your aging parents or a spouse with dementia, or trying to ensure you can pay for long-term care or leave a legacy for your loved ones, here are some important things to keep in mind:
Have an estate plan: Preparing a will saves your family the stress of determining how to distribute your assets, especially when what you want is different from the distribution plan that state intestacy laws will apply if you die without a will. Having a durable power of attorney and a health care power of attorney generally means that no one will have to apply for a guardianship over you. A living will relieves your family of deciding whether you would have wanted life-prolonging measures at the end of your life. As an elder law attorney, I can help you prepare an estate plan tailored to your needs.
Think about your long-term care: If you want to age in place at home, identify the resources that can assist you. The Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Inc., has resources and links to help you age safely. Whether you live in Asheville or in greater Western North Carolina, there are many resources available to help you plan for long-term care. If you or a loved one need nursing home care, consider Medicaid planning to preserve the assets you are allowed to protect under North Carolina Medicaid regulations.
Consider your particular needs: Are you leaving behind a family member with special needs? Do you want to protect an heir from a spouse you don’t like or a substance abuse problem? Do you want to make a gift to a charitable organization in your will? All of these issues require an attorney, and I can help you develop and implement a plan to accomplish your goals.
