All Services
Wills
A Will (also called a Last Will and Testament) transfers your property at death, names a guardian for your minor children, explains how taxes and expenses are supposed to be paid from your estate, and names a Personal Representative to handle your estate. The Law Office of Monica Doerr can prepare a Last Will and Testament that ensures that your wishes will be followed after your death. learn more
Trusts
There are many different kinds of trusts and reasons for creating trusts can vary. You might create a trust to avoide probate, provide for a loved one with special needs, minimize estate taxes, and protect assets from creditors. During the estate planning process, we can determine whether a trust will help you achieve your goals and help you ensure that all your assets are properly transferred to the trust. learn more
Powers of Attorney
A General Durable Power of Attorney allows another person to handle your financial affairs for you. If you do not have a Power of Attorney in place and become incapacitated, someone in your family may have to go to expense of going to court and obtaining guardianship over you. learn more
Healthcare Representative
An Appointment of Healthcare Representative names a person to make health care decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. It ensures someone you trust will be able to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them for yourself. learn more
Living Wills
A living will documents your wishes regarding the withdrawal of medical treatment and life support when you are terminally ill including your desires regarding the use of artificial nutrition and hydration. Even if you have discussed these wishes with your family and have an Appointment of Health Care Representative, studies have shown that those who have living wills are more likely to receive the end of life care that they desire. learn more
Long Term Care Planning
During the long term care planning process at the Law Office of Monica Doerr, we will help you minimize the financial burden of long term care by coordinating private and public resources such as Medicaid or Veteran's Benefits to help preserve financial security; we can also provide information about community resources concerning long term care and community support available to caregivers. learn more
Medicaid Planning
In the event, that you need home care or institutionalized care in a nursing home facility, you may need to use Medicaid to help you pay for your care. Medicaid has complex asset and transfer rules. The Law Office of Monica Doerr can help you navigate these rules and create a plan to preserve the financial security of you or your spouse as you prepare to apply for Medicaid benefits. learn more
Medicaid Application
Applying for Medicaid can be a long, confusing process. Attorney Monica Doerr has experience navigating through the Medicaid system. She also keeps up with recent and pending changes in the law. Allowing the Law Office of Monica Doerr to help you apply for Medicaid benefits can simplify the process and ensure that you receive the maximum benefit under the law. learn more
Medicaid Appeals
Sometimes a Medicaid decision needs to be appealed because you have been erroneously denied benefits or because an appeal will result in more favorable benefits. The Law Office of Monica Doerr can review your situation and if necessary appeal a prior Medicaid decision to make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled under the law. learn more
Veteran's Benefit Planning
Many veterans and their families are not aware of all the benefits that the VA provides. Wartime veterans and their spouses who need help paying for assisted living or in home care may qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance Pension. The Law Office of Monica Doerr can help you figure out if you qualify for benefits as part of the long term care planning process. learn more
Special Needs Planning
Special needs trusts and special needs planning provide security for a disabled family member’s future while preserving their eligibility for public benefits. If you have a disabled family member who is receiving government benefits such as SSI or Medicaid, you should be concerned about the best way to provide resources for them after you are gone without disqualifying that person from public benefits. The Law Office of Monica Doerr can help you use special trusts, known as “Special Needs Trusts” and “Supplemental Needs Trusts” that will provide for the supplemental needs of your disabled family member, rather than reduce or eliminate the public benefits they are receiving. learn more
Estate Planning
When most people think of estate planning, they think of getting a Will drafted. A Will is an important part of an estate plan, but estate planning includes more than that. During the estate planning process at the Law Office of Monica Doerr, we will review your complete financial and family situation. We ensure that the beneficiaries of assets such as life insurance or retirement plans are coordinated with the beneficiaries under your will to ensure that your wishes are carried out after you have passed and that your family will be best provided for. learn more
Estate Administration
When a loved one has passed away it can be confusing to know what to do. Whether you are named as the trustee of your deceased family members trust or the Personal Representative under their Will, the Law Office of Monica Doerr can assist and advise you through the process of dealing with your loved one's estate. learn more
Probate
Probate is a legal process involving the courts through which a decedent’s Will is administered to pay debts and taxes and transfer the property to the people named in the Will. At the Law Office of Monica Doerr, we work to probate the decedent's will as quickly and cost effectively as possible. learn more
Guardianship
Sometimes a person lacks the mental capacity to handle their own affairs or sign a power of attorney to name someone else to help them handle their affairs. When that happens, a guardian needs to be appointed by the court to protect and take control of a loved one’s financial matters and healthcare decisions. At the Law Office of Monica Doerr, we understand how overwhelming these problems can be and can help guide you through the difficult decisions that need to be made in becoming a guardian over a family member. learn more