For Baltimore County residents, thinking ahead towards the future is important. However, it’s not enough to just set goals for what you hope your future will be. You need to be proactive about making plans to achieve financial security and to provide for your loved ones. You also need to prepare for what will happen if things go wrong. If you get sick or pass away, you want to know your family is protected, your assets are safe, and you’ll get only the medical care you desire.
Sinclair Prosser Gasior can help you to be prepared and ready for anything. Our Baltimore County elder law and estate planning attorneys are here and ready to guide you through the process of making comprehensive plans for your future. We can work with you to make effective use of legal tools to create an asset protection plan, an incapacity plan plan, a retirement plan, and a plan for your legacy. You should give us a call today to get started.
Life in Baltimore County
Baltimore County is a County in Maryland and is the third most populated county in the state. Baltimore County is part of the Northeast Megalopolis and is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area. Old Baltimore County was first established by a proclamation back in 1674, but the county lines have changed since that time.
Today the county spans a total of 682 square miles and it is adjacent to York County in Pennsylvania, as well as to other Baltimore counties including Harford, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Kent and Howard. Baltimore County is also adjacent to the city of Baltimore, which is an independent city that is not actually located in Baltimore County.
Baltimore County is home to multiple universities, including Towson University, the University of Maryland’s Baltimore County campus, Stevenson University, and Goucher College. Much of the county is considered to be suburban, although parts of Northern Baltimore County are rural. Baltimore has many major employers, and many residents within Baltimore County are employed in the fields of education, human services, healthcare, and retail.
Seniors in Baltimore County
Seniors who need additional help have many different resources that they can turn to within Baltimore County. For example, the Baltimore County, MD government page provides details about all of the different programs and services available to residents of the county. This can include Medicare counseling, meal service, community outreach programs, court appointed guardians, free and low price legal services, senior employment opportunities, and crafting programs for seniors.
The Baltimore County, MD government page also links to other programs that older residents of this county could make use of to maintain their independence or enhance their quality of life. This includes a link to Maryland Access Point, which details benefits for seniors, disabled adults, and caregivers; as well as County Ride which provides transportation; and a Caregivers Program which offers resources for those who care for seniors.
Seniors can benefit from these community programs, but will often require more intensive benefits as they grow older. For example, there may come a time when you require nursing home care or long term care at home, both of which can be very expensive.
There are benefits programs such as Medicaid that could help you to cover the costs of this care, but you must qualify and many seniors don’t because they have too many assets. Sinclair Prosser Gasior can help you to create a plan to get the care you need and can provide comprehensive assistance in making sure you can get covered for means-tested benefits without impoverishing yourself.
Probate Courts in Baltimore County
If you live in Baltimore County and your loved one has passed away, assets may need to pass through the probate process. The Orphans’ Court is the court that oversees the probate process in Baltimore County. The Orphans’ Court also presides over guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, which take place in circumstances where someone has become incapacitated without having a power of attorney or other incapacity plan in place.
Sinclair Prosser Gasior can go to court on your behalf to help you handle your probate or estate issues. We can also provide assistance with the incapacity planning process or estate planning process so you can try to help your family stay out of court during stressful times, such as when you get sick or after you pass away. Plans will need to be made in advance if your family is to be able to pass on assets or make decisions on your behalf when you become incapacitated without having to first go to court.
Getting Help from Baltimore County Elder Law and Estate Planning Lawyers
Baltimore County estate planning lawyers help seniors and people of all ages to take the necessary steps to respond to a loved one’s death, to create a legacy plan, or to prepare for whatever the future holds. If you don’t want your wealth at risk and you don’t want your family forced to cope with complicated court processes if something happens to you, you should reach out to our firm today.
To find out more about the ways in which Sinclair Prosser Gasior can help you, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 410-573-4818 or contact us online at any time to work with a compassionate and knowledgeable member of our legal team on your personalized plans for your future. Call now to get your plans underway.
