Falls Church, Virginia

Dedicated Asset & Healthcare Management Services of the Elder Community

With over 45 years of experience in estate planning and financial matters for elders, the attorneys of Melnick & Melnick, PLC have earned the trust of their clients through dedicated personal service and a commitment to excellence. That trust translates into other services for our elder clients as well. For those clients, who no longer have the ability or desire to manage their financial or healthcare decisions, we provide asset and healthcare management services to clients so that they may enjoy their lives while feeling at ease that their health and well-being are being looked after.

No one likes to think about losing his or her independence. However, it inevitably happens to millions of Americans every year. Our attorneys help clients prepare for that eventuality by drafting instruments that will allow another to manage their affairs should they become incapacitated or unable to make their own decisions. This process is part of a complete, comprehensive estate plan.

Asset & Healthcare Management Services

By using trusts, medical directives, and/or powers of attorney, a client can enable another to act on the client's behalf if he or she should become unable, or no longer want, to manage  finances and healthcare. A durable power of attorney enables someone to act on someone else's behalf. When one of our clients gives another a power of attorney, they can perform a number of services for the client. They can pay their bills, check on their long-term care, and manage their financial affairs. A client can also give another a power of attorney for healthcare, enabling us to make their healthcare decisions for them and allowing them to speak to doctors and other medical professionals on their behalf.

Guardianship v. Durable Power of Attorney

A power of attorney (POA) has many advantages over a guardianship. In order to establish a guardianship, there would have to be a finding of incompetence on the part of the client. An incompetent person cannot make any decisions regarding his or her care or finances. With a POA, there is no finding of incompetence. We are still able to assist you, but you are left free to make your own decisions. Also, unlike a guardianship, a POA does not go through the courts and, therefore, stays out of the public record.

To learn more about how we can help you, contact our Falls Church, Virginia, elder asset management attorneys for an initial consultation.