Nursing Homes
A Power(less) Power of Attorney
by Anita Schnee, Attorney at Law Suppose your friend wants you to take care of his business if he needs you to. He makes you his power of attorney by using a document that he
Estate Planning: Protect your health care choices, your property, and your Legacy
Become one of the few people who are prepared for change at every stage of life.
The Estate and Elder Law Planning Center was founded in 1998 by D. Randall Drake, who became the first attorney in our community to focus primarily on estate planning and elder law. With a background in law, accounting, real estate, and insurance, Randall built the firm with a vision of providing comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the unique needs of families, retirees, and individuals planning for the future. His expertise and commitment established the firm as a trusted resource for estate planning, asset protection, and elder law in our region.
In 2019, Larry Treat joined the firm, bringing a strong academic background and a deep passion for helping families navigate complex legal matters. His dedication to customized, cutting-edge estate planning strategies quickly made him an essential part of the firm’s continued success. Recognizing Larry’s commitment to the firm’s mission, Randall chose Larry as his successor.
On January 1, 2023, Larry officially took ownership of the firm as part of Randall’s succession plan. With this transition, Larry continues the firm’s legacy of providing personalized, high-quality legal services while implementing innovative estate planning and elder law strategies.
Check out the video from Randall and Larry below for more on the history of the firm.
Today, the Estate and Elder Law Planning Center is a full-service firm with a team of three attorneys and 11 dedicated support staff, ensuring that clients receive guidance every step of the way—from creating an estate plan to administering a loved one’s estate after their passing.
We are structured into five specific departments, each focused on a critical area of estate planning and elder law: (1) Estate Planning; (2) Funding; (3) Long-Term Care Medicaid Planning; (4) Trust and Estate Administration; and (5) Probate and Guardianship.
You can learn more about each of these departments and the services they provide by exploring our website, but below is a brief overview of each one.
Estate Planning is the processes in which our attorneys design customized, cutting-edge estate plans, ranging from simple beneficiary designation-based plans to advanced trusts that provide asset protection, probate avoidance, and special needs planning. This is where most of our relationships with our clients begin.
Our funding team helps ensure that trusts are properly “funded”. What this means is that the client’s titled assets (bank accounts, investment accounts, real estate, vehicles, etc.) are correctly titled to achieve the intended protections and benefits that the trust document is designed to provide without the need for probate court oversite.
Within our Long-Term Care Medicaid Department our experienced attorneys and Medicaid Benefits Coordinator help families navigate Long-Term Care Medicaid eligibility with the goal of preserving their assets from the costs of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, whether through proactive planning or crisis planning.
After a client passes, our Trust and Estate Administration team assists trustees and representatives in efficiently handling trust and estate matters, helping to ensure a smooth transition for beneficiaries. Our team is available to help as much or as little as needed.
While we are dedicated to helping our clients avoid probate court, if someone’s loved one did not engage in proper planning to avoid probate, our experienced attorneys and Probate Coordinator can guide clients through the court process. We can also handle guardianships for individuals who need legal protection due to incapacity.
By integrating these departments, our goal is to provide seamless, end-to-end service to help ensure that our clients’ estate plans work not just on paper, but in practice—both during their lifetime and for their loved ones after they pass.
Under Larry’s leadership, our firm continues to evolve while maintaining the highest standards of client service that have defined the firm since 1998. Whether you need help protecting your assets, qualifying for Long Term Care Medicaid, or administering an estate, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
Plan for when you are unable to manage your affairs. Protect your loved ones’ inheritance. Stay out of probate court. Save on taxes.
Preserve your independence in later years, shelter your assets, enjoy quality health care, and find peace of mind.
We are here to help you through a difficult time: Selecting, coordinating, and paying for the best residential care possible.
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