Elizabeth Joy Maykut

Our elder law practice includes assisting elders in becoming eligible for public benefits such as Veterans Pension (Aid & Attendance) benefits plus Medicaid to pay for nursing home care. It also includes Wills, Trusts & Estates, Probate, and Guardianship.

Estate Planning is vitally important for all of us. We recommend that each client have a Will plus a durable power of attorney, Living Will/Health Care Surrogate Designation and a Declaration of Preneed Guardian.

Those who are incapacitated and haven't executed a durable power of attorney and designated someone to serve as their health care surrogate need a guardian appointed to handle their finances and make health care decisions for them. We can assist you with this court-supervised process and can assist you in objecting to such a process if you find yourself or a loved one in guardianship court.

Any assets held solely in your name when you pass away must pass through probate in order to be re-titled in the name of your heirs. Certain assets are not subject to probate such as your personal residence, joint bank accounts and assets with beneficiary designations. Despite that, we believe that everyone should have a Will.