Elder Law & Medicaid Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL
Long-term care and Medicaid planning, incapacity documents, and asset protection for West Palm Beach seniors and their families — handled with care by phone, video, or appointment.
Cornerstone Wealth & Legacy Law helps West Palm Beach seniors and their families navigate the legal side of aging — long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, incapacity documents, and asset protection — with practical, compassionate guidance under Florida law. We work throughout Palm Beach County by phone, video, and appointment.
Long-Term Care & Medicaid Planning in West Palm Beach
The cost of nursing home and assisted-living care can erode a lifetime of savings. For West Palm Beach families, elder law planning aims to protect the home and resources while pursuing Florida Medicaid long-term-care benefits where appropriate. Because Medicaid applies a five-year look-back to asset transfers, early planning preserves the most options — but even crisis planning can help once care is already needed.
Incapacity Planning & Guardianship
A durable power of attorney, a health care surrogate designation, and a living will let someone you trust manage your finances and medical decisions if you cannot — often avoiding a court guardianship. When guardianship is unavoidable, it is handled through the Palm Beach County court in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and we guide West Palm Beach families through it.
How We Work With West Palm Beach Seniors & Families
- Durable powers of attorney and health care directives
- Medicaid-aware asset protection and long-term-care strategy
- Homestead protection for the family residence
- Coordination with your overall estate plan and beneficiaries
West Palm Beach Elder Law & Medicaid FAQs
What does an elder law attorney do in West Palm Beach?
An elder law attorney helps West Palm Beach seniors and their families plan for long-term care, protect assets, qualify for Medicaid where appropriate, and put incapacity documents in place — durable powers of attorney, health care surrogates, and living wills. The focus is on aging with dignity while protecting the family's resources under Florida law.
Can I protect my home and savings from nursing home costs in West Palm Beach?
Often, yes — with planning. Florida's homestead protection shields your West Palm Beach residence in many situations, and tools such as properly structured transfers, personal-services agreements, and certain trusts can help preserve assets while pursuing Medicaid long-term-care eligibility. Because Medicaid uses a five-year look-back, the earlier you plan, the more options you have.
What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare for long-term care?
Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial nursing care; it covers limited short-term skilled care. Medicaid is the program that can cover ongoing long-term care for those who meet Florida's income and asset rules. Elder law planning focuses on bridging that gap for West Palm Beach families.
Do I need a guardianship for a loved one in West Palm Beach?
Not always. If your West Palm Beach loved one signed a durable power of attorney and health care surrogate while competent, those documents often avoid the need for a court guardianship, which is filed in the Palm Beach County court within the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. We help families put these protections in place before a crisis and assist with guardianship when it becomes necessary.
Can elder law planning be done remotely from West Palm Beach?
Yes. Cornerstone serves West Palm Beach seniors and their adult children by phone and video, preparing documents remotely and coordinating signing under Florida's witness and notary rules, with in-person meetings available in the Daytona Beach area.
Planning for care in West Palm Beach?
Start with a free 20-minute conversation. We'll help you understand your options and the steps that protect your family.
Schedule Your Free ConsultationCornerstone Wealth & Legacy Law, PLLC is licensed in the State of Florida and serves clients throughout the state. This page is attorney advertising and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Estate planning, probate, and elder law outcomes depend on your individual facts and the proper execution of documents under Florida law.