About Barbara M. Kislak, Esq.

Barbara Kislak works with seniors and their adult children to develop lifetime and testamentary plans. Barbaras first priority is to encourage seniors to plan for disability. They should not postpone making decisions and rely on the government, the hospital, the banker, the social worker. If a plan is in place, the senior feels less vulnerable and family members know how to proceed. The major elements of a lifetime plan are the Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxy. These advance directives make it possible for a trusted friend or family member to act if there is a period of disability or incompetence. Testamentary Planning takes the form of Wills and Trusts. Barbara works with each client to be certain that these documents reflect the client's wishes. Barbara's practice includes: Medicaid planning, Medicare, Guardianships, Supplemental Needs Trusts & planning for disability, wills, trusts, and after-death estate administrator(probate or administration of the estate). HEALTHCARE planning covers many areas, including Medicare, Medigap, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance. Each client's choices are based on personal desires and financial ability. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS can be an extremely important step in protecting their assets for themselves and their loved ones. Clients are encouraged to think about the problems of aging and to adopt financial strategies that will make them feel secure. DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION I encourage seniors to organize documents and I give them tools to help this process. This is an essential step in assuring that an agent can easily act during a period of disability or incapacity. GUARDIANSHIP is necessary if the senior becomes incompetent prior to executing advance directives that empower someone act on his behalf. The process of appointing a guardian requires a hearing before a court ESTATE PLANNING assures that the clients possessions and assets go in accordance with his wishes. .Often clients have particular concerns about their loved ones that are incorporated into the estate plan. SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUSTS are used when someone wants to leave assets to a disabled person who is receiving government benefits. These trust, which can be incorporated into a will, allow the disabled beneficiary to continue receiving government benefits (for example, SSI and Medicaid) and to use his/her Supplemental Needs Trust to enhance quality of life. AFTER DEATH ESTATE ADMINISTRATION: It is vital to secure and transfer assets of the deceased quickly. In particular, the process of claiming retirement benefits and making disclaimers require actions that must be completed within specific time limits. If the deceased had a will we apply for Letters Testamentary. If there is no will, we apply for Letters of Administration. Attorney Advertising