What is a CELA?
The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to certify practitioners of elder and special needs law. NELF’s Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation represents confirmation of a lawyer’s exceptional expertise in the practice of elder and special needs law. There are approximately 25 CELAs in Massachusetts. Our Managing Partners, Dan M. Surprenant and Michelle D. Beneski, are two of those 25.
The National Elder Law Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and improvement of the professional competence of lawyers practicing in the area of elder law.
Becoming a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) indicates that an elder law and special needs practitioner has achieved the highest level of excellence in the performance of their profession. But earning the CELA designation means so much more to seniors, families, and people with special needs who are seeking the services of an expert in whom they can have full confidence that their needs will get the attention of a highly skilled elder law specialist.
The complex issues facing the aging population present unique challenges when starting the process of planning for estate and asset protection. In the highly specialized area of elder law and Medicaid planning, experience and compassion are critical elements when choosing who you can trust to develop the best plan for your loved ones.
Here are some typical scenarios that a CELA can help address:
- Adult children who are helping their aging parents want to help them to protect their assets. Their greatest concern is how to do that with the 5-year look back period. What happens if they need a nursing home before the 5 years has passed?
- Aging parents have a strong preference to stay in their own home but the adult children cannot provide care. How do they afford to pay for care?
- One spouse is placed in a nursing home. The spouse remaining at home is concerned about losing everything they worked for all our lives and what happens if they need care, too.
- Adult children need to sell my mom’s home. Mom is in an assisted living facility and the proceeds from the sale of the home is needed to help pay the bills. Mom has Alzheimer’s and cannot sign a deed.
- Dad can’t drive anymore, and needs help with his personal care needs. He wants to stay in his own home, but I live out of state and can’t be there to help. What are our options?
- How can I avoid making the same mistakes my parents made?
Call our team for help!
Attorneys Daniel M. Surprenant & Michelle D. Beneski know that these scenarios can only be addressed by experienced, dedicated professionals who solve challenges like these on a daily basis. With over 25 years of combined experience, they have helped thousands of individuals and families in all phases of planning for long-term care. Contact our Client Service team today to learn how easy it can be to have a complementary 90-minute consultation with one of our elder law specialists.