Elder Law is a highly specialized field of law. The laws acknowledge and address the specific quality-of-life needs of those over the age of fifty. Its effective practice provides the elderly with qualified legal, financial, ethical and emotional advantages. While encompassing literally all legal services for seniors, Elder Law's primary objective is Asset Protection and Long Term Care Planning.

Legislative Alert

The Community Living Assistance Services and Support program (CLASS Act), a proposed federal law that would have provided some federal financial assistance to those in long term care facilities, died a quiet death in Congress recently. A combination of political and budgetary factors led to the scuttling of this promising bill which would have provided assistance in the amount of $50.00 per day or $18,000.00 per year in government assistance. Once again, aside from extremely limited Medicare coverage, the family of those in long term care facilities are on their own. In an effort to assist families facing the daunting financial consequences of a nursing home placement (as much as $400.00 per day for some Cape Cod facilities), my office has developed a plan to assist such families with Medicaid/MassHealth issues relative to the costs of long term care. Please call my office and ask what MassHELP!!™ can do for you and your family.

We will be presenting our first informational seminar on these topics on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at the Harwich Community Center. Please refer to the Schedule of Events for further details.

Legislative Alert

On December 28, 2012, the Massachusetts Legislature , changed the implementation date of the new Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code from January 3, 2012, to March 31, 2012.  The new law represents a significant recodification of Massachusetts' Probate Law. On the new effective date, the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code will be fully implemented and operable. The changes will be dramatic and far ranging. These major developments will not only impact Probate Administration but will be reflected in the drafting of estate planning documents after the effective date. The transitional rules for switching over to the new procedures are already in effect.

The most significant change contained in the M.U. P.C. involves the provisions allowing for informal probate of an estate with minimal court involvement. These provisions promise to significantly reduce delay and costs in the administration of most estates. The M.U.P.C. will bring about the most sweeping changes to probate administration in decades.

We will be presenting informational seminars in the Spring of 2012, at various locations regarding the implementation of the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code and how our proprietary QWill program can assist in the probate process.

Experience

Attorney Arthur B. Crooks, Jr. has over 20 years experience providing legal solutions for seniors and their families. Attorney Crooks has spoken before senior and professional groups as well as lectured at Cape Cod Community College on Estate Planning, Elder Law and Special Needs issues and has been selected as a faculty member by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. for presentations on Guardianship and Elder Law.

Education:

• Tufts University, B.A.
• University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.

Memberships:

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• Chairman, Council on Aging, Dennis, Massachusetts
• Estate Planning Council of Cape Cod
• National Guardianship Association, Certified Guardian
• Alzheimer's Association of Cape Cod & The Islands
• West Dennis Public Library, Board of Directors & Vice President

Bar Admissions:

• Massachusetts
• California
• U.S. District & Appeals Court
• Supreme Court of the United States