AREAS OF PRACTICE:

- Estate Planning and Probate Administration
- Planning for Incapacity
- Medicaid Planning and Applications
- Medicare and Medicaid Appeals
- Guardianship and Conservatorship
- Health Insurance Representation
- Settlement Planning and Special Needs Trusts
- Public Benefits and the Disabled

Estate Planning and Probate Administration

The Elder Law Offices of Kathleen Kienitz helps individuals and families reduce estate taxes, maximize income, and preserve assets for later generations. This is achieved by carefully drafting wills and trusts after thorough conferences with clients. Medicaid and long-term health care planning are integral components of these plans. The firm also guides family members through the probate process and the administration of an estate.  
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Planning for Incapacity

The Elder Law Offices of Kathleen Kienitz helps clients prepare for the possibility of incapacity. Plans are tailored to the client's individual needs, and often involve medical powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, revocable living trusts, advance directives, living wills, and property transfers. These plans take into consideration diagnoses, such as Alzheimer's Disease, and are tailored to preserve assets in the event long term becomes necessary.
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Medicaid Planning and Applications

The rules that govern Medicaid eligibility are rapidly changing. The conventional wisdom that has guided the transfer of assets to younger generations in the past can now result in disastrous consequences. The firm helps plan for long-term care both before and after the need for long-term care arises. The firm also assists with the Medicaid application process, from start to finish.
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Guardianship and Conservatorship

The Elder Law Offices of Kathleen Kienitz helps people who must obtain guardianship and conservatorship of relatives who no longer can manage their own affairs. The firm leads the guardian or conservator through the probate process. The firm also represents people who object to the choice of a guardian or conservator, or who believe a guardian is unnecessary.
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Health Insurance Representation

Denial of health insurance benefits has become an increasingly frequent occurrence. The Elder Law Offices of Kathleen Kienitz analyzes insurance policies and advocates for benefits that have been improperly denied.
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Settlement Planning and Special Needs Trusts

The Elder Law Offices of Kathleen Kienitz has an extensive experience with drafting supplemental needs trusts to hold the assets of disabled individuals so they may maintain eligibility for public benefits. These trusts are drafted as part of the settlement of personal injury suits and as part of the preparation of an estate plan for clients with disabled family members.
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Public Benefits and the Disabled

The Elder Law Offices of Kathleen Kienitz assists disabled clients in obtaining and maintaining their eligibility for public benefits, such as MaineCare / Medicaid, Social Security Income and housing. The firm has extensive knowledge and experience with public benefit regulations and agencies. Often the firm will assist clients who receive assets, through inheritance or the settlement of a personal injury action, with maintaining eligibility for public benefits.
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