Trusted Elder Care Law Attorneys in Princeton, New Jersey

Elder care law is the area of law focused on the legal and financial side of caring for aging adults: planning and paying for long-term care, qualifying for New Jersey Medicaid, arranging guardianship or powers of attorney, using caregiver agreements, and guarding against financial exploitation. At Ravenell Law, we help Princeton families put these protections in place before a crisis and manage them when care is already underway.

Generally no, not for the long run. Medicare can cover a limited period of skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay, and that coverage ends when the skilled need ends. Ongoing custodial care — the daily help with bathing, dressing, eating, and supervision that most nursing home residents need — is paid privately, by a long-term care insurance policy, or by New Jersey Medicaid. Families usually learn this at the moment the Medicare days run out, which is why we would rather look at the numbers before that letter arrives.

When someone applies for long-term care Medicaid in New Jersey, the county reviews roughly five years of financial history looking for transfers made for less than fair value: gifts to children, a name added to a deed, forgiven loans, even generous help with a grandchild’s tuition. A transfer inside that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay, and the penalty begins when the applicant is otherwise eligible and already in care — the worst possible timing. Not every transfer is penalized and some are curable, so bring the statements before undoing anything.

Sometimes, and it is always worth checking before assuming guardianship is necessary. An older power of attorney may be durable but too narrow — missing gifting authority, Medicaid application authority, or the power to create or fund a trust — and some banks and facilities resist forms they consider stale. If the document holds and your parent still has capacity, using it is far faster and cheaper than a court proceeding. If it does not, guardianship is the fallback, and we will tell you plainly which one you are facing.

Elder law focuses on legal issues that affect aging adults—including long-term care, Medicaid eligibility, incapacity planning, and protection from exploitation—while estate planning centers on how assets are managed and distributed. Our firm helps families with both.

An elder law attorney helps individuals and their families plan for healthcare, disability, and the protection of assets. We guide clients through Medicaid eligibility, guardianship cases, and the legal steps needed to care for aging loved ones.

If a loved one is aging, experiencing cognitive decline, or needs assistance managing their affairs, now is the time. Early planning ensures legal protections are in place and avoids crisis-based decisions later.

New Jersey has laws that protect seniors from financial abuse, fraud, and exploitation. Our firm can help identify misconduct and take legal action when needed.

No. A power of attorney is granted voluntarily, allowing a person to act on someone else’s behalf. Guardianship is court-ordered when an individual can no longer make decisions independently. We help families determine and implement the appropriate legal tool.

A certified elder law attorney has specialized training and experience in elder law. While not all practitioners are certified, our firm offers in-depth knowledge and experience in handling elder-focused legal matters.