Why Should I Choose ELG Estate Planning as My Tri-Cities Estate Planning Attorney?
ELG Estate Planning is a regional leader in asset protection estate planning; its founder is recognized as a top-rated attorney in elder law. Our Tri-cities office Is conveniently located on West Clearwater Ave in Kennewick. Our focus is exclusively on estate planning and elder law because you deserve a law firm that is skilled, experienced, and up-to-date on elder law and estate planning: wills with asset protection, trusts, powers of attorney, Long-Term Care, medicaid benefits, probate, and trust and estate administration. ELG Estate Planning is a team of Tri-Cities estate planning attorneys dedicated to serving your needs and ensuring high-quality legal representation while supporting you in every way we can.
Our website contains a wealth of information. We encourage you to explore it to see how we can help you. We look forward to planning with you.
Tri-Cities Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland
Compassion and respect: two words that drive ELG Estate Planning to provide capable Estate Planning and Elder Law services for our clients.
Regardless of age, no one likes to think about the possibility of being incapacitated, or of what will happen to your loved ones when you are gone. We at ELG Estate Planning understand the stresses and complexities that come from life’s journey. Many on our Team have cared for our own aging loved ones, and we know the confusion and fear that arise when physical and mental abilities fade. We understand the importance of caring for those who are important to us, be it an aging parent or a child or grandchild.
We’ve seen how a well-thought-out Estate Plan can mean the difference between ease and comfort versus chaos and impoverishment where there was no plan, or a bad plan.
ELG Estate Planning provides what you need: resources and a plan to give you the best life possible.
That’s why having people you can trust to help you navigate the legal, financial, and medical issues that arise in life is so important. Our goal is to make Estate Planning, Elder Law, Long-Term Care Planning, and other important issues as stress-free as possible.
Watching a Free Webinar Is a Great Place to Get Started
At ELG Estate Planning, we are here to provide you the information you need. Questions about Estate Planning? Wills? Trusts? Durable Powers of Attorney? Health Care Directives? Caring for a loved one? Paying for care without going broke? What do you need? What steps can you take to protect yourself, your family and your money? Learn how to secure the future for both you and your loved ones. Too often, legal information is presented in an overly complicated and confusing way. Our webinars share information that’s clear, straightforward, and understandable.
In these webinars, Managing Partner Lynn St. Louis will teach you the ins and outs of estate planning to ensure your family is taken care of. With an experienced Tri-Cities estate planning attorney, you will have a guide through every step of securing your future. We’re happy to answer any questions and ensure you understand the decisions before you. Your estate plan will be crafted with by an experienced Tri-Cities estate planning attorney at your side every step of the way. You’ll have the confidence in knowing that your future and that of your loved ones is secured.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tri-Cities Estate Planning Attorneys
What Is a Will with An Asset Protection Trust?
A Will with an Asset Protection Trust protects assets for a surviving spouse or any beneficiary. To allow for flexibility, funding of the Trust can either be mandatory or contingent. If contingent, upon the death of the first spouse, a decision will be made at that time whether to protect assets through funding the Asset Protection Trust for the surviving spouse with the deceased spouse’s assets. Importantly, the Asset Protection Trust shields assets from unnecessary depletion. Assets in the Trust are not considered “countable” by Medicaid or other government needs-based benefit programs. Thus a Will with an Asset Protection Trust avoids depleting funds unnecessarily, and is especially useful if expensive Long-Term Care is needed by the surviving spouse. Couples can protect 50% to up to 100% of their estate from Long-Term Care expenses, creditors, and the State.
A Will with an Asset Protection Trust not only protects assets for the surviving spouse, but also for other beneficiaries should they need asset protection at the time they inherit. Furthermore, assets that remain in the trust ultimately will be distributed according to the wishes of the first spouse to pass, thus avoiding “unintentional disinheritance” of your beneficiaries due to unforeseen future events, such as remarriage.
What Are Special Needs Trusts or Supplemental Needs Trusts?
“Special Needs” or “Supplemental Needs” describes any trust intended to provide benefits without causing the beneficiary to lose public benefits he or she may be entitled to receive.
When individuals with special needs who receive government needs-based benefits receive money from personal injury settlements, inheritances or other sources, they can lose their public benefits. You can structure your estate so that you provide assistance to your disabled child or grandchild without jeopardizing their receipt of benefits. This also can include a surviving spouse who may need Long-Term Care. Such a trust preserves those benefits and sets aside additional funds for the person with special needs. For a surviving spouse needing Long-Term Care, such a trust renders those assets non-countable for Medicaid qualification.
Does a “Supplemental Needs” Trust Differ from A “Special Needs” Trust?
It depends. Both terms can be interchangeable, and describe the purpose of the trust rather than being a limited legal term. However, the term “Special Needs” trust commonly is used to refer to a trust that a disabled person creates for themselves, or to a trust created for a disabled child. A “Supplemental Needs” trust often refers to a trust created by a third-person for someone, like a spouse or child, who would benefit from asset protection, though who would not be referred to as a person with “special needs”.
Does the Existence of A Special or Supplemental Needs Trust Qualify the Beneficiary for Public Benefits?
No. The existence of a Special or Supplemental Needs Trust does not itself make public benefits available. The beneficiary must meet eligibility criteria to qualify for the benefits program. If properly drafted and established, funds in the trust will not cause a loss of benefits.
Should I Choose a Revocable Living Trust?
A Revocable Living Trust is an arrangement for the management and distribution of your property. Such an arrangement is revocable during your lifetime. Your assets are transferred to the Trustee of the Revocable Living Trust, who manages and distributes the property according to the terms of the trust. The grantor/trustor, meaning the person who creates the trust, often serves as their own Trustee.
A Revocable Living Trust can be a good Estate Planning tool for those who own property in other states. However, unless it is properly funded and administered, upon the Trustor’s death there will need to be both a trust administration and a probate. A primary goal of a Revocable Living Trust is to avoid probate, especially in states such as California where probate is expensive and complicated – which is not the case in Washington.
Also, it is very important to understand that Revocable Living Trusts provide no Long-Term Care Medicaid planning benefit for a surviving spouse in Washington. In fact, Revocable Living Trusts can prove harmful to asset protection and Long-Term Care benefits planning in Washington. It is important to consult with a Tri-Cities estate planning attorney if you have or are considering a Revocable Living Trust.
What People in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland Say About ELG Estate Planning Law Firm
“I was very pleased with my call in to this firm. I needed a referral and had to call back a couple of times because I tend to lose things. Between speaking with Nancy and then Marina, they were able to get me the info I needed and were so patient with me. highly recommend this firm.”
“Glad I reached out to ELG for help with my probate needs. Just needed some basic information and Victoria was so kind and gracious to me on the phone. She sent me to the website that has all the videos on estate planning. So great. Very professional, but still so human. Excellent experience.”
“We used the Elder Law Group to help with our esate planning. They were extremely knowledgeable and professional throughout the process. I especially appreciated the efficient processes Elder Law had in place to assure our estate planning was completed in a reasonable amount of time. In particular, Josh Dickinson, an attorney with ELG has been especially helpful and responsive with any questions we have had.”
Directions to ELG Estate Planning at Our Tri-Cities Location
Our Tri-Cities office is located east of downtown Kennewick at 5861 West Clearwater Avenue in Suite 3. There is a large sign at the street which features the name of the firms in this complex. There are two buildings in the parking lot. We are in the front building facing Clearwater Avenue next door to Napa and across the street from Tri-Cities Battery.
Contact Our Team
The first step to a successful estate plan is simple: reach out and learn more. Understanding your goals and your concerns about family estate planning is what is most important. Everyone’s situation is unique. Find out how we can help you get your plan in place for what matters most to you.