What to Expect at Your Orlando Elder Law Consultation
You’ve decided it’s time to meet with a Florida elder law attorney, but you may feel slightly intimidated about your first meeting. The best thing you can do is be prepared. You don’t want to waste the time you have by realizing later that you could have asked better questions or brought the right documentation.
When you meet with the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A., your Orlando elder law attorney will answer all of your questions. We offer our clients professional, yet compassionate representation. To help you prepare, here is what you can expect at your first client meeting with us.
Documentation You Should Bring to Your Meeting
It’s best if you can get ample documentation together before coming in for your first appointment. Here are some recommended documents to bring:
- Recent bank statements;
- Recent home appraisal or other documents that show your home’s value;
- Recent investment and retirement account statements, including 401Ks, IRAs, and pensions;
- Property tax statements;
- Detailed information and account statements on debts you owe — mortgage, car loans, credit card accounts, etc.;
- Information on any income you receive, including pensions, annuities, Social Security, employment, etc.;
- Trust documents, will, or any other estate planning documents;
- Any other information that relates to your appointment.
What Your Orlando Elder Law Attorney Might Ask
One of the first things any attorney is going to want to know is why you are here. There are many reasons why you may want to see an elder law attorney. It’s important that we identify your goals right away so we can figure out exactly how to help.
Your attorney is going to ask about your health or the health of your family member you need legal assistance for. If someone was just diagnosed with a physical or mental disorder, they may need long-term care sooner rather than later.
You will be asked about your financial situation. What do you own, how many houses, what retirement accounts you have, etc. If you are inquiring about Medicaid coverage, we need to know whether or not you will be eligible. There are a lot of variables, so we need to get a complete picture of your asset portfolio.
Depending on the reason for your visit, you may be asked about your estate plan. Do you have a health care surrogate? Have you set up advance directives? What does your will cover? There are a lot of questions that may relate to your existing estate plan. If you do not have one, that will also be discussed.
Questions to Ask an Orlando Elder Law Attorney
Have a list of questions prepared for those topics you need answered for your current legal problem. You should also include some questions on general law topics. Some of these include:
- How do you bill? Do you have a fee schedule?
- How quickly do you return client contact?
- Will you be the attorney assigned to my matter or will someone else be handling it?
- What type of experience do you have handling cases similar to mine?
It’s better to write down everything you have concerns about and then highlight the most important ones you want to get answered during the initial meeting. Use your checklist to ensure you’ve covered everything in your consultation.
Contact a Florida Elder Law Attorney Today
If you need assistance with an elder law matter in Orlando, contact the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.
