ESTATE PLANNING

If you or your spouse served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime, you may be eligible for a number of healthcare-related benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including the Aid and Attendance benefit. The Aid and Attendance benefit is a special pension program for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who are homebound or who require nursing home care. Attorney Michael A. Otte is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist you with your VA claim and application and to help you get the benefits you earned through your service.

Medicaid is a complex series of benefits programs established by the federal government and administered by each state for its citizens. While there are several different elements under the umbrella of Medicaid, the Medicaid Long-Term Care program is one that many seniors rely on for help when they require ongoing care. At Otte & Czajkowska, LLC, we help aging individuals plan, apply, and qualify for Medicaid benefits for long-term care expenses while protecting and preserving assets for their descendants.

According to Illinois law, most estates with assets valued at more than $100,000 or those that include real estate must be administered through the process of probate. During probate, the estate is validated, all debts are settled, and the remaining property is distributed to heirs in accordance with the deceased person's will and state law. Our attorneys can help prepare an estate for probate so that the process can be completed as quickly as possible. We also offer guidance to executors and other fiduciaries as they carry out their assigned responsibilities.

If you have a family member or friend who is struggling to manage their own affairs due to a health issue or disability, you may be able to help by seeking an adult guardianship. Guardianship of an adult can be granted in Illinois if the adult is found to be disabled and in need of assistance. The process of obtaining guardianship can be complex, but we can help. The experienced team at Otte & Czajkowska, LLC will work with you in determining the type of guardianship that is needed and filing your request in court. We can also assist you in carrying out your duties as guardian for your loved one.