Top best R Lawyers in Berlin | 39 available

Whether you are caring for an ill spouse and worried about losing your savings to pay for long term care, or you have decided to put your estate plan together to protect your family’s future, Lara will reduce the stress that often accompanies such financial and medical care challenges.. Lara will also draft your Will, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives and estate tax documents so you can relax knowing that your estate planning is done according to your specific wishes.. With more than 15 years of experience assisting people who are in need of estate planning, asset protection and Medicaid planning, Lara understands her clients’ needs for public benefits as well as their desire to protect their wealth for future generations. Because she knows the Medicaid rules and how to navigate the complexity of Medicaid eligibility, Lara will help you protect what you’ve worked so hard for.. An elderly woman recently came to Lara because her husband became ill and she was scared they’d lose everything to pay for his long term care needs. She was also concerned about her ability to continue caring for him as she aged. Lara transferred the house to the wife and applied for and was awarded Medicaid home care services for the husband. The husband was now entitled to Medicaid home care hours so the wife didn’t have to worry about being the primary care giver, or worry about paying privately for care.. Lara takes a special interest in advocating for the elderly and people with special needs. Her grandmother lived until 103 and she saw firsthand how her grandmother’s rapidly changing needs affected her ability to care for herself and to pay for her expanded health care needs. For people with special needs, Lara helps to lay out a plan that will provide for future financial security while still having access to public benefits.. As the mom of 3 young children, Lara's day doesn’t end when she leaves the office. On her days off, Lara and her husband enjoy biking and taking day trips with their children.

Practice Specialties:. Criminal Defense. Personal Injury. General Practice

Licensed in the State of Connecticut and the State of New York. Licensed in the District of Connecticut

Brendan, one of Connecticut’s top elder law attorneys, (according to Super Lawyers Magazine) has preserved his clients’ estates by crafting plans to protect their money as they age and face the prospect of long-term care.   Brendan, with his gentle manner, will explain in plain English, how you can protect your assets while receiving public benefits.. With his extensive experience and thorough understanding of the Medicaid eligibility rules and regulations, Brendan can help you get Medicaid benefits so you are able to preserve the money you’ve worked so hard for. And because of his success in many appeals of Medicaid cases, he will fight to get you benefits even if you’ve already been denied.   Brendan’s expertise in estate planning includes customizing planning strategies that allow you to build wealth, saving on taxes and protecting the people who depend on you for support.. In addition, Brendan also can help families with disability planning. If you’re a parent or guardian of a child with special needs, he will work hard to make sure that your child remain financially secure even when you’re no longer there to provide support. He can set up a special needs trust to protect your money for your child while retaining their eligibility for benefit programs.. Don’t be fooled by Brendan’s laid back style. He will fight tooth and nail to protect you from losing your money to long term care. In 2012, Brendan prevailed in a case that had a significant impact on Connecticut law. He represented a woman whose husband was in a nursing facility. Medicaid considered her husband ineligible for benefits due to the income she received from an annuity. Brendan brought the case to federal district court and fought to keep the state from counting annuities as an income source for Medicaid eligibility.. His landmark case (Lopes v. DSS), a victory, resulted in the husband receiving Medicaid benefits and the wife keeping the annuity income for her own living expenses. The court’s far-reaching verdict now makes it possible for many Connecticut senior married couples to purchase annuities as an asset protection strategy.. Even though Brendan is at his desk before dawn, he does enjoy a full life outside of work in Simsbury, where he lives with his wife and two young children. When he has time for himself, he likes to hike, bike and play the blues on his guitar.

Balancing everyday responsibilities and expectations can be challenging when you are caring for a loved one living with a disability. Add estate or special needs planning for the future into the mix, and it may feel utterly overwhelming. Attorney Colleen Masse understands what you are feeling and can guide you through your planning process in a straightforward and compassionate manner.. As Chair of the Firm's Special Needs Planning department and the Fiduciary Services department, Colleen can help you with a wide array of planning needs. She can partner with you on creating your comprehensive estate plan or laying out long-term care planning techniques that will protect your assets.. She can also show you how to use a Special Needs Trust to maintain and improve your quality of life, and to protect your money so you can afford the care you need for the long run. Colleen knows public benefits inside and out and can guide you through the eligibility process in a way that won’t jeopardize your eligibility for government benefits.. Before joining Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri, Colleen was with PLAN of CT where she worked with families and their attorneys to determine the appropriate trust type for the families’ given situation. She also worked with the Connecticut State Department of Education where she represented students in the care of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this role, she advocated for children with special education needs - filing complaints, performing record reviews, and communicating with various agencies and providers.. In her spare time, Colleen enjoys the outdoors and often hikes and camps. She’s an avid reader and runner. In fact, she has completed multiple marathons, including the Boston Marathon!

Attorney Jeff Rivard is enthusiastic about meeting new people and is interested to learn all he can about you and your situation. And we are confident that you once you get to know Jeff, that you will discover he is precisely the type of person you are looking to for guidance on your estate planning needs.. Among his estate and long-term care planning skills, are helping you create plans for a solid, secure future that ultimately give you peace of mind. Jeff also heads up our Estate Administration Department and can help provide you the care and confidence (especially during this difficult time) with the probate process and administering your loved one's estate.. When it comes to working with you, Jeff naturally goes the extra mile - literally. Once, on a Saturday, he drove many miles to the home of a terminally ill client to help her make changes to her estate plan to protect cherished real estate. The client passed away a few days later, with her wishes set in place.. Another time, Jeff uncovered a $15,000 life insurance policy that a departed client’s family didn’t know existed.. An accomplished public speaker, Jeff shares his knowledge and experience in the elder law field with many professional, civil and non-profit organizations.. At Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri, Jeff is at your service to help you with:

Experienced R attorney serving clients in Berlin and surrounding areas.

Experienced R attorney serving clients in Berlin and surrounding areas.