- GuardianshipThe guardianship lawyers at Dine Elder Law are available to assist you and your family in all aspects of guardianship proceedings in all of Manatee and Sarasota Counties, including Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch & Sarasota.
- Personal InjuryOne of the requirements of the third-party special needs trust is that the trustee has the sole discretion to make trust disbursements and your family member cannot make demands for funds. Unfortunately, a third-party special needs trust is not a viable option for your family if the inheritance was not initially directed to the special needs trust, or your family member received a property settlement from a personal injury case.
- Medicaid PlanningEligibility is determined on a case by case basis and there are a many rules and regulations that must be followed in order for you to qualify. The attorneys at Dine Elder Law have knowledge of look-back periods, income caps, transfer penalties and waiting periods to put Medicaid planning into practice for your personal situation.
- Estate PlanningOur attorneys are aware of the challenges that you may face later in life, including the distribution of your estate to heirs and assistance with financial and healthcare decision-making. Effective estate planning can reduce the anxiety that families and couples may feel in securing their financial future and arranging the distribution of their property.
- WillsIf a decedent had a will, and the decedent had property subject to probate, the probate process begins when the executor, who is nominated by the decedent in the last will, presents the will for probate in a courthouse in the county where the decedent lived, or owned property. If there is no will, someone must ask the court to appoint him or her as administrator of the decedent’s estate. Often, this is the spouse or an adult child of the decedent. Once appointed by the court, the executor or administrator becomes the legal representative of the estate.
- TrustsSpecial consideration must be given to families with disabled minor or adult children when crafting an estate plan. A special needs trust (also called a supplemental needs trust), is used to hold assets for the benefit of someone in your family with disabilities, without affecting their eligibility for important public benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income.
- Power of AttorneyA guardian is a person who has been appointed by a court to legally act on behalf of a ward by making decisions that are in the ward’s best interests, such as health care and living arrangements, management of finances, bills and expenses and any needed management or sale of assets. If you have a relative or family member who is incapacitated, they may need someone they can trust to make decisions and take actions for them if advance directives such as a Power of Attorney or Health Care Surrogate are not in place.
- ProbateDiane Roy is an essential part of our team. She is a Florida Registered Paralegal with over 29 years of experience. In the past 14 years, Diane has supported the attorneys and clients and is fueled by her focus and passion in Guardianship and Probate Law. Diane stays informed of the latest legislative changes through her ongoing training and legal continuing education. Her many years of expertise are invaluable to the firm and to the clients. One of the reasons Dine Elder Law receives many referrals is a result of the service that Diane provides to our clients. She is attentive, compassionate, quick to respond and is always there as a liaison championing our client’s causes.