Life Care Planning Lawyers, Life Care Planning Florida

Florida Life Care
Planning

Aging is a natural part of life, so if you’re living in Florida, life care planning is essential. As you age, you may require more medical care and additional assistance with the activities of daily living. These services are expensive and, unless you create a thoughtful plan to pay for them, could quickly deplete your life savings and consume the entire inheritance you planned to leave to your family. In addition, your loved ones could be placed in the difficult position of determining what types of services you would have wanted should you ever become incapacitated and unable to make these choices for yourself.

During the past 30 years, Walser & Herman Law Firm has focused on this constantly changing field of law. Our Boca Raton life care planning lawyers have watched the prices for crucial senior services skyrocket in Florida and, in response, we have developed innovative solutions for our clients to secure the quality life care they need.

Putting Plans In Place Sooner Rather Than Later: Palm Beach County Life Care Planning Lawyer

However, to truly be effective, we advise you to begin making your life care plans sooner rather than later with the help of a life care planning lawyer. The earlier you begin planning, the more options you have available. Our team can help you create a comprehensive life care plan that includes:

Florida long-term care as well as assisted living care
Medical and end-of-life decisions should you become incapacitated
Guardianship and conservatorship appointments
Estate planning tools

Florida Long-Term Care

You can’t see into the future and predict the extent of care you may need many years from now. But, you can put a plan in place that covers the costs of whatever long term care in Florida you may need. When you meet with one of our lawyers, they will advise you on important financial long-term planning resources such as:

Health insurance that offers adequate medical coverage for aging adults
Insurance for long-term care in Florida that covers the costs of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and in-home health aides and nursing services
Medicaid eligibility while preserving your assets and financial security
We speak candidly about potential challenges you may face in later years and tailor an effective plan suited to your individual circumstances.

Making Your
Own Decisions

When you work with a life care lawyer, you have the ability to make crucial decisions ahead of time in case you ever become incapacitated. We advise you to draft advanced directives that clearly state your medical and end-of-life decisions to be carried out if you are unable to express your wishes. These important documents ensure that your wishes are honored and relieve your loved ones of making potentially heart-wrenching decisions. Through the creation of advanced legal documents, you can also appoint a trusted family member or friend to carry out your wishes.

Guardianship
of an Adult

Many seniors remain able to make vital medical and financial decisions throughout their lives. However, an illness, an injury, or dementia could render your loved one unable to care for her or himself. In this case, you may need to seek a court appointment of a guardian.

A court-appointed guardian is taked with making decisions on behalf of an incapacitated audlt, called a ward, that are in the ward’s best interest. The court must first determine that the adult is incapacitated through an evidentiary hearing. The guardian remains accountable for her or his decisions and must periodically update the court on those decisions. Generally, the Florida court attempts to impose the least restrictive relationship on the adult. For example, if the power of attorney provides enough protection, the judge may rule that guardianship is not necessary. The guardianship relationship may be terminated at a later date if the ward regains capacity.

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Elder Care in Palm Beach

Walser & Herman Law Firm helps you create an effective long-term care plan. Call our Boca Raton main office or our Palm Beach Gardens office location at 561.750.1040 or email us to schedule an appointment with our estate and life care lawyer.

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Call us (561) 750-1040

Our Team

Our experienced team of attorneys is here to help you navigate your estate plan and the Florida probate process.

Thomas C. Walser, JD, LLM

Partner/Attorney

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Thomas C. Walser, JD, LLM

Partner/Attorney

Originating from Minnesota, Thomas C. Walser received his Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Accounting from the Mankato State University, Minnesota in 1972. He obtained a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1976. Thomas C. Walser, as founder of the Walser & Herman Law Firm has committed himself and his career to the field of trust and estates, exemplified by attaining an LLM or graduate law degree in the area of estate planning from the University of Miami School of Law, Heckerling Institute, graduating in 1983. The Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning is often regarded as one of the most prestigious and renowned programs specializing in the area of trust and estates.

Mr. Walser is a former CPA who has practiced tax law for over 35 years. He began his professional career as a tax accountant in 1975, serving in the tax department of Touché Ross & Co., one of the big eight accounting firms in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1979 he was employed in the legal department of United Air Lines, Chicago, Illinois. While at United Air Lines, he provided legal, tax and pension services to United Air Lines and its parent holding company, UAL, Inc. In 1977 he accepted a position as International Tax Attorney in the International Tax Department of McDermott, Inc., where he traveled extensively to the Middle East, India, Mexico and Europe, dealing with area management, foreign advisors, and foreign tax authorities.

Mr. Walser has been in private practice in Florida since 1983. His law practice includes the areas of wills, trusts, probate and estate planning. His tax practice includes individual, corporation and partnership income taxation, estate tax planning and the preparation of all applicable income tax returns.

Christa W. Herman, Esq.

Partner/Attorney

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Christa W. Herman, Esq.

Partner/Attorney

Christa W. Herman was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Canton, Georgia. She received her undergraduate degree from Berry College located in Rome, Georgia, in 2008, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in Finance along with a minor in music.

Mrs. Herman relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 2009 to attend Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, where she obtained her juris doctorate (JD) in 2012. Mrs. Herman was admitted to practice law in Florida in July 2012.

Prior to attending law school, Mrs. Herman worked as an Intern with Sellers & Warren, P.A., Attorneys at Law-Real Estate Closing Attorneys in Woodstock, Georgia, and as a Legal Administrative Assistant at The Mason Law Firm, LLC, Counselors At Law-Trial Attorneys and Mediators in Canton, Georgia. In 2011, Mrs. Herman joined The Law Office of Mitchell I. Kitroser, P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida as a Law Clerk, and continued to work there as an Associate Attorney until May 2013. Mrs. Herman started working with the Walser & Herman Law Firm in May 2013 as an Associate Attorney. She practices in a variety of law fields, including Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Medicaid Planning, Guardianship, and Probate and Trust Administration.

Mrs. Herman is a member of the Buddy Walk Committee for the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization located in Boynton Beach, FL, and a volunteer with the Els for Autism Foundation located in Jupiter, FL. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Herman has a younger brother, with Down Syndrome, and a younger sister. Growing up in a supportive and diverse family environment has greatly influenced Mrs. Herman’s involvement with special needs individuals. She is passionate about providing legal services in a timely, caring, and professional manner in order to meet the needs of today’s families. Mrs. Herman lives in Jupiter, FL with her loving husband and fellow attorney, Michael Herman, Jr.

Jay L. Kauffman, Esq.

Of Counsel

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Jay L. Kauffman, Esq.

Of Counsel

Jay Kauffman represents individuals and families in prosecuting and defending claims regarding estates, trusts and guardianships, including disputes over: the validity and construction of testamentary documents and advanced directives; the modification or reformation of estate plans; the inclusion or exclusion of assets in estates or trusts; the validity of purported gifts; the mental capacity of alleged incapacitated persons; the existence and sufficiency of lesser restrictive alternatives to guardianship; the appointment of guardians; breaches of fiduciary duty in the administration of estates, trusts and guardianships; and tortious interference with expectancies.

Mr. Kauffman also represents fiduciaries in the efficient administration of estates, trusts and guardianships. Mr. Kauffman has represented clients primarily in Florida’s Palm Beach and Broward Counties in such matters for more almost 20 years. Prior to that, he wrote and negotiated contracts for a telecommunications company and litigated commercial cases.

Mr. Kauffman is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University (B.A. with Honors in Economics,1993) and The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1996). He has been admitted to the Florida Bar since 1996.

Mr. Kauffman co-authored the following published legal authorities:

Chapter 4, Rights of the Surviving Family, Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, 5th edition (2005), 6th edition (2007) and 7th edition (2009);

Chapter 14 Appellate Practice In Probate, Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, 5th edition (2005), 6th edition (2007) and 7th edition (2009);

Chapter 3, Jurisdiction, Practice Under Florida Probate Code, 4th edition (2006), 5th edition (2008), 6th edition (2010) ), 7th edition (2012), 8th edition (2014), 9th edition (2016), and 10th edition (2018);

Mr. Kauffman has also co-authored several Florida Bar Journal Articles regarding estate litigation.

Mr. Kauffman is currently a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL), Elder Law, and Trial Law sections of the Florida Bar. He lives in Boynton Beach with his wife and two daughters.