Elder Law
Plan for the Years Ahead With Clarity and Care
Having the proper documents in place can make it much less stressful for people to care for you. If you are caring for someone who does not have proper documents, we can help you obtain them. We can prepare or help prepare applications for Medicaid to help pay for long-term care.
Elder law guidance for individuals and families throughout Holliston and the MetroWest area.
Protect Your Independence. Prepare for What Comes Next
The rising cost of long-term care has made thoughtful planning an important consideration for many older adults and their families. At the same time, people are living longer and often spending many years enjoying active and independent lives.
At Deland Law Office, Jennifer A. Deland helps seniors and their families throughout Holliston and the MetroWest area navigate the legal and planning issues that can accompany aging — including long-term care, Medicaid/MassHealth eligibility, asset protection, and healthcare and financial documents.
Our approach begins with listening carefully to your circumstances. The goal is a thoughtful plan that reflects your wishes, supports your independence, and provides greater clarity for the people you trust.
Planning for the Person, and the People Who Care About Them
An older adult may need increasing assistance while still wanting to maintain independence and control. At the same time, a spouse, adult child or loved one may be trying to protect that person while respecting their wishes. Good elder law planning takes both perspectives seriously.
Independence
Help preserve an older adult's ability to make decisions and maintain control.
Protection
Consider how financial, healthcare and long-term care decisions can be addressed if circumstances change.
Family Clarity
Give trusted family members a clearer understanding of wishes and options.
Preparedness
Address potential future circumstances before a crisis makes decisions more difficult.
Planning for the Decisions That Matter
Depending on your circumstances, elder law planning may involve several areas of legal planning.
Asset Protection Planning
Legal strategies that may help protect assets while preparing for future care needs.
Healthcare Planning
Prepare healthcare documents and communicate your wishes about medical decisions.
Long-Term Care Planning
Plan for potential assisted living, nursing care, or home healthcare needs.
Medicaid / MassHealth Planning
Understand eligibility requirements and planning considerations.
Trust Planning
Consider whether a trust-based plan may be appropriate for your goals.
Guardianships & Conservatorships
When someone can no longer manage personal or financial matters independently, these arrangements may provide an appropriate framework for protection.
An Estate Plan Should Reflect Where You Are Today
Many older adults have never created an estate plan, while others may have documents prepared years ago that no longer reflect their current circumstances. Life changes. Families change. Assets change. Healthcare needs change. Your estate plan should have the opportunity to change with them.
At Deland Law Office, we take the time to understand your circumstances before recommending how an existing plan should be updated or whether a new estate plan should be created.
Start With the Right Legal Foundation
Every person's circumstances are different, but several documents commonly form the foundation of an estate and incapacity plan.
Last Will and Testament
Can identify beneficiaries and nominate the person who should handle the administration of your estate.
Durable Power of Attorney
Can authorize a trusted person to manage financial and legal matters if you become unable to manage them yourself.
Health Care Proxy
Allows you to designate someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate them yourself.
Advance Directive
Can communicate preferences concerning certain types of medical treatment and end-of-life care, subject to applicable Massachusetts law.
HIPAA Authorization
Can identify individuals who may be permitted to access certain protected health information.
The appropriate documents and their terms depend on individual circumstances and should be discussed with qualified legal counsel.
Sometimes the Right Plan Goes Beyond a Will
A will-based estate plan may be appropriate for many people. Others may benefit from a trust-based plan depending on their assets, family circumstances, long-term care concerns, and broader planning goals. Different trusts can serve different purposes, including asset management, long-term care planning, special needs planning, or protecting assets for beneficiaries—and can affect how assets are administered and who controls them.
Trust planning is highly dependent on individual circumstances, the type of trust used, timing, applicable law, and the assets involved. At Deland Law Office, we take the time to understand your situation before discussing whether a trust may be appropriate.
Prepare Before a Difficult Decision Becomes an Urgent One
Long-term care can take many forms, including assistance at home, assisted living, or nursing care. Planning in advance can give families more time to understand their options and make decisions consistent with the older adult's wishes.
Care at Home
Consider planning for assistance that may allow an older adult to remain at home or within the community where appropriate.
Long-Term Care
Consider how future care needs may affect finances, assets and the broader estate plan.
Medicaid / MassHealth
Understand the eligibility rules and planning considerations that may apply to government benefits.
When Decision-Making Becomes Difficult
There may be circumstances in which an older or vulnerable person can no longer manage certain personal, healthcare, or financial decisions independently. In those situations, a guardianship or conservatorship may provide a legal framework for another person to help manage specific responsibilities, subject to court involvement and applicable Massachusetts law. In some situations, the same person may serve in both roles.
Generally has authority relating to personal and healthcare matters.
Generally focuses on financial and property-related affairs.
Legal authority depends on the specific court order and circumstances. Deland Law Office can guide families through the legal process and help them understand the responsibilities involved.
Good planning protects more than assets.
It can protect independence, clarify healthcare wishes, reduce uncertainty for family members, and help ensure that important decisions are approached with your priorities in mind.
Initiate Your Legal Plan
Modern Planning, Local Support
Meeting Options
In-Office (Holliston) or Zoom
Consultation Fee
Usually $400
Explore Our Legal Services
Estate Planning
Create a thoughtful plan for your assets, healthcare wishes, and the people you want to protect.
Wills
Establish or update a will as part of a broader estate planning strategy.
Planning for Children
Consider guardianship arrangements designed to protect children and their future.
Plan with clarity. Move forward with confidence.
Whether you are planning for your own future or helping a loved one navigate the next stage of life, the conversation can begin with understanding your circumstances and exploring your options.
Deland Law Office
1660 Washington Street
Holliston, MA 01746
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