Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorneys Serving South Hills

We’re young parents in Bethel Park or South Fayette. Why do we need an estate plan now?

If something happens to both parents, a will is how you name the guardian who would raise your children. Without one, a court decides. An estate plan can also name someone to manage money left to minor children, so a minor doesn’t receive a large inheritance outright. Whether your home is a starter house in Brentwood or a larger one in Upper St. Clair, a will, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and updated beneficiary designations protect your family and are much easier to put in place early.

My parents live in the South Hills and are starting to need help. What documents should they have in place?

Aging parents should have an elder focused durable power of attorney for finances, a healthcare power of attorney, a living will, and an up-to-date will. These documents let a trusted adult child pay bills, talk with doctors, and make decisions if a parent becomes incapacitated. Without them, families in Baldwin-Whitehall, Bethel Park, and neighboring communities may have to ask a court for guardianship, which is slower, costlier, and more stressful. An elder law attorney can also review whether a parent’s home and savings are protected if long-term care becomes necessary.

How can I plan for my own family while also helping my parents pay for care?

Many sandwich generation adults in Upper St. Clair, South Fayette, and across the South Hills are raising children and supporting parents at the same time. Start by getting your parents’ legal documents in order, then talk with an estate planning and elder law attorney about long-term care costs and Medicaid and VA benefits eligibility. Medicaid generally reviews asset transfers made in the five years before an application, so you should consult with an elder law attorney so that any gifts and changes to ownership are properly planned for. At the same time, update your own will, guardianship choices, and beneficiary designations so that your family is covered at every stage.