Find yourself in need of hiring an elder law attorney? Here are some items you need to make sure are addressed before hiring one to represent your family members.
1
Who does the attorney represent?
Make sure the attorney clarifies who their client is in the initial meeting. Most often this is the elder or family member whom you have brought to the office (or whom you represent as attorney-in-fact). The recommendations of the attorney will vary based on who their identify as their client, therefore this needs to be clarified up front.
2
What are the services you will receive?
The attorney should not just tell you a general idea of things they can do for anyone who wants to receive VA benefits or Medicaid. They should talk to you about ideas they see for you specific situation. This does not mean you will need to identify exactly what path you want to take to protect and preserve assets, but you should know that you have certain paths to choose from.
3
What are the fees?
An attorney in North Carolina is required under our professional ethics to disclose the fees and costs up front. Fees may be based on hourly rates, or may be a flat fee. If it is a flat fee, make sure you understand what that fee covers specifically so you are not surprised through the process with recording fees, deed preparation charges, or bills for phone calls.
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