Trusted Elder Care Law Attorney in Princeton, New Jersey

Elder care law is the area of law focused on the legal and financial side of caring for aging adults: planning and paying for long-term care, qualifying for New Jersey Medicaid, arranging guardianship or powers of attorney, using caregiver agreements, and guarding against financial exploitation. At Ravenell Law, we help Princeton families put these protections in place before a crisis and manage them when care is already underway.

Generally no, not for the long run. Medicare can cover a limited period of skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay, and that coverage ends when the skilled need ends. Ongoing custodial care — the daily help with bathing, dressing, eating, and supervision that most nursing home residents need — is paid privately, by a long-term care insurance policy, or by New Jersey Medicaid. Families usually learn this at the moment the Medicare days run out, which is why we would rather look at the numbers before that letter arrives.

When someone applies for long-term care Medicaid in New Jersey, the county reviews roughly five years of financial history looking for transfers made for less than fair value: gifts to children, a name added to a deed, forgiven loans, even generous help with a grandchild’s tuition. A transfer inside that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay, and the penalty begins when the applicant is otherwise eligible and already in care — the worst possible timing. Not every transfer is penalized and some are curable, so bring the statements before undoing anything.

Sometimes, and it is always worth checking before assuming guardianship is necessary. An older power of attorney may be durable but too narrow — missing gifting authority, Medicaid application authority, or the power to create or fund a trust — and some banks and facilities resist forms they consider stale. If the document holds and your parent still has capacity, using it is far faster and cheaper than a court proceeding. If it does not, guardianship is the fallback, and we will tell you plainly which one you are facing.

Elder law focuses on legal issues that affect aging adults—including long-term care, Medicaid eligibility, incapacity planning, and protection from exploitation—while estate planning centers on how assets are managed and distributed. Our firm helps families with both.

An elder law attorney helps individuals and their families plan for healthcare, disability, and the protection of assets. We guide clients through Medicaid eligibility, guardianship cases, and the legal steps needed to care for aging loved ones.

A Medicaid lawyer, or Medicaid attorney, helps an applicant and family qualify for long-term care Medicaid without avoidable delay. In practice that means reviewing five years of statements for transfers, identifying which assets are countable, working out the community spouse’s share and income allowance when one spouse stays home, and preparing or reviewing the application filed with the Mercer County Board of Social Services. It can also mean addressing a qualified income trust when income exceeds New Jersey’s monthly cap, or requesting a fair hearing after a denial. No attorney can promise that an application will be approved; the value is in filing it correctly and on time.

According to New Jersey’s Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, for 2026 the spouse who stays at home keeps the greater of $32,532 or one-half of the couple’s combined countable resources, but not more than $162,660. That spouse may also receive part of the institutionalized spouse’s income: effective July 1, 2026, the base monthly maintenance standard is $2,705, which can increase when shelter costs exceed $811.50 a month. Exceptional circumstances can justify a higher allowance through a fair hearing. The actual numbers depend on the couple’s accounts and income on the date care begins.

Look for someone who will explain New Jersey’s current Medicaid figures plainly, review the lookback period before suggesting any transfer, and prepare the powers of attorney, health-care directive, and application work themselves or tell you clearly who will. Ask what records to bring to a first meeting and how they handle a crisis admission versus advance planning. Be cautious of anyone who promises that a particular asset will be protected or that Medicaid will be approved.

If a loved one is aging, experiencing cognitive decline, or needs assistance managing their affairs, now is the time. Early planning ensures legal protections are in place and avoids crisis-based decisions later.

New Jersey has laws that protect seniors from financial abuse, fraud, and exploitation. Our firm can help identify misconduct and take legal action when needed.

No. A power of attorney is granted voluntarily, allowing a person to act on someone else’s behalf. Guardianship is court-ordered when an individual can no longer make decisions independently. We help families determine and implement the appropriate legal tool.

A certified elder law attorney is a lawyer who has earned a voluntary elder-law credential from a private certifying organization, which generally involves years of practice, peer references, and an examination. Certification is not required to handle elder law matters in New Jersey. Whoever you work with, ask how often they prepare Medicaid applications, guardianship petitions, and powers of attorney, and how they would approach your family’s facts.