TOP TEN THINGS TO DISCUSS WITH AN ELDER LAW ATTORNEY
1.	ESTATE PLANNING
•	What Happens to Your Estate at Death
○	Who’s in Charge?
•	Personal Representative, Guardian of Minors, Trustee, etc.
○	Probate or Non-Probate?
•	Titling of Assets
•	Will?    Trust?    Both?    Neither?
•	Beneficiary Designations
○	Tax Issues
•	Estate Taxes
•	Gift Taxes
•	Capital Gains
•	Fiduciary Taxes
•	Income Taxes on Retirement Assets
•	Probate/Trust Administration
•	Litigation
2.	DISABILITY/INCAPACITY PLANNING
•	Financial Matters
○	Informal Arrangements
○	Ownership Arrangements
○	Power(s) of Attorney
○	Trusts
○	Conservatorship (see #9, below)

•	Health Care/Personal Matters
○	Health Care Directives
○	Guardianship (see #9, below)
3.	LONG-TERM CARE PLANNING
•	Payment Sources for Long-Term Care 
○	Private Pay
○	Long-Term Care Insurance
○	Reverse Mortgage
○	Medicare
○	Veterans Benefits (see #4, below)
○	Medical Assistance (see #5, below)
•	Housing Options
○	Services/Supports to Stay at Home
○	Long-Term Care/Nursing Home 
○	Residential Care Home
○	Assisted Living
○	Independent Living
○	Continuing Care Retirement Community
○	Group/Foster Home
○	Moving In with Children (and Vice Versa)
•	Pooled Trusts
•	Special Needs Trusts
4.	VETERANS BENEFITS
•	Low-Income Pension
•	Service-Connected Disability Compensation
•	Aid and Attendance/Housebound Benefits
•	Extended Care and Rehabilitation
•	VA-Contract Nursing Homes
•	Minnesota Veterans Homes

5.	MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
•	Assets
•	Income
•	Spousal Impoverishment Rules
•	Transfers
•	Hardship Waiver
•	Liens and Estate-Recovery
•	Appeals
6.	PLANNING FOR A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY
•	Standby/Temporary Custodian
•	Supplemental Needs Trusts
•	Guardianship/Conservatorship (see #9, below)
•	Housing Options (see #3, above)
•	Public Benefits Eligibility
○	Social Security Disability Income
○	Supplemental Security Income
○	Medicare
○	Medical Assistance
○	Group Residential Housing
○	Home- and Community-Based Programs
7.	MAINTAINING INDEPENDENCE/QUALITY OF LIFE
•	Staying Physically Active/Socially Connected
•	Home Modifications
•	In-Home Supports and Services
•	Avoiding Crime, Fraud, Exploitation, and Abuse
•	Fall-Prevention
8.	GRANDPARENT/RELATIVE CUSTODY
•	Interested Third-Party Custody
•	De-Facto Custody
9.	GUARDIANSHIP/CONSERVATORSHIP
•	Evaluation of Less Restrictive Alternatives
•	Accounting/Reporting Requirements
•	Safeguarding Against Fraud/Abuse
10.	 CONNECTING TO RESOURCES
RESOURCE TYPE	NOTES	
Geriatric Care Managers		
Community Education 		
Physical Therapists		
Reverse Mortgage 		
Accountants/Tax Advisors		
Support Groups		
Professional Fiduciaries 		
Daily Money Managers		
In-Home Service Providers		
Moving/Packing Companies		
Long-Term Care Insurance 		
In-Home Health Care Providers		
Social Workers		
Mental Health Referrals		
Veterans Service Organizations