Clients throughout Milford, OH trust Zimmer Law Firm to provide assistance with estate planning and elder law matters. Estate and elder law issues are some of the most important and personal legal issues that you will experience over the course of your life. Everyone needs to make an estate plan and an end of life plan to maintain their autonomy, protect assets, and achieve security. Our firm makes this process easy by arming you with the information and legal tools you need to make a comprehensive plan in Milford, OH.
Representing Clients in Milford
Milford, Ohio is located in both Clermont County and Hamilton County. Considered a part of the Greater Cincinnati area, Milford has a population of just over 6,000 people. Milford is home of several bike and hiking trials, including the American Discovery Trail. It is also the site of the Sunflower Revolution and hosts an annual Milford Frontier Days festival each year.
Milford spans 3.85 square miles, and the median age in the city is 43.2 years. However, a total of 21.9 percent of residents within Milford are aged 65 and older. As people begin to age, they face many issues that elder law and estate planning attorneys can provide help with. Although elder law attorneys offer services to people of all ages, seniors may be especially likely to need nursing home care and to need both an incapacity and legacy plan. An elder law attorney at Zimmer Law Firm provides assistance with planning for the future.
Seniors in Milford
In Milford, 19.3 percent of households are made up of people who are 65 and older and who are living alone. Unfortunately, seniors living without family members may some day become too old to care for themselves and to continue living independently. When a senior has reached advanced age and requires custodial care in a nursing home setting, a Milford elder law attorney can provide assistance in finding the right nursing home and in making sure the nursing home admissions paperwork doesn’t abridge the rights of patients.
There are many different nursing homes in and around Milford which seniors can choose from in order to make sure they have found a facility which will provide them with the care they need to live out their golden years in peace and safety. Caring.com lists three nursing homes directly in Milford and additional nursing facilities in nearby Cincinnati and surrounding areas. Some nursing homes have low reviews and seniors should ensure they have conducted careful research and taken steps to reduce the chances of being victimized by elder abuse or neglect.
Planning ahead to ensure nursing home costs can be paid without spending an entire life savings is also important for seniors, and assistance with Medicaid planning for nursing home care is one of the services The Zimmer Law Firm offers.
Estate Planning and Elder Law Services in Milford
Elder law services include providing assistance to seniors with a wide variety of issues related to nursing homes. Elder law services, however, are not just for seniors. People of all ages can benefit from both elder law and estate planning services. The services offered to clients in Milford, OH by The Zimmer Law Firm include:
- IRA and retirement planning
- Estate, legacy, and inheritance planning
- Asset protection
- Incapacity planning
There are many different issues which people throughout Milford need to consider in order to be prepared for the future. For example, you want to make sure medical decisions are made in advance through the use of a living will, Do Not Resuscitate order or appointment of a healthcare proxy. By making these decisions in advance, you protect your loved ones from being forced to make difficult and personal choices.
Planning ahead also means saving for retirement, taking advantage of tax breaks that make saving easier, protecting your nest egg in case you must go into a nursing home, and ensuring you’ve made a plan to maximize the value of an inheritance for heirs. The Zimmer Law Firm gives you the legal tools and knowledgeable advice to address all of these issues and more.
Courts in Milford Addressing Estate Issues
While many estate planning steps and elder law steps involve finding ways to resolve important issues without the need for going to court, there are certain circumstances in which court involvement is beneficial or is necessary. Probate is one example. Probate is a process in which the validity of a will is determined, the affairs of the deceased are wound up, and assets are transferred to new owners.
The probate process takes place in the county where the deceased person lived. Because Milford is within two counties, it can be complicated to make an assessment of which probate court is appropriate after someone has passed away. Options include:
- Probate court for Claremont County, Ohio which is located at 2379 Clermont Center Drive, Batavia, OH 45103.
- Probate Court for Hamilton County, Ohio which is located at William Howard Taft Center, 230 East Ninth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Probate courts not only preside over the transfer of assets and the winding up of a deceased person’s estate, but can also preside over guardianship proceedings. Guardianship proceedings make it possible for an incapacitated person to be declared a ward so a guardian can be appointed to make decisions and/or manage assets on behalf of the incapacitated individual.
Family and friends of someone who is deceased or incapacitated will need to go through the appropriate legal processes to protect their own interests and to protect the legacy of the deceased. A local attorney who understands the Milford court systems can help. The Zimmer Law Firm understands the rules and requirements and is here to assist.
How a Milford Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Can Help
The Zimmer Law Firm has a strong reputation for the top-notch legal services we provide in Milford and surrounding locations. If you need an elder law and estate planning attorney who is familiar with local laws and who can provide you with the comprehensive assistance and advice you need to make informed choice about future planning, give us a call now at 513.721.1513.