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Elder Law The focus of our practice is in the area of elder law, primarily Medicaid planning, assisting clients and their families through the "Medicaid Maze" when a nursing home placement occurs. Click on the links below to read more about Medicaid/Elder Law as well as the other areas we serve.Mr. Costas and Mr. Mack focus much of their practice on representing senior clients. They have represented many clients in Medicaid planning and nursing home law. They will help you, or your family member, avoid being caught in the "Medicaid maze" and will advise you in preserving your assets from the high costs of long term care. Either Mr. Costas or Mr. Mack can answer your questions and provide you with all available alternatives in an initial consultation for which a fee of no more than $150 will be charged. Fees for full Medicaid representation are discussed at the initial consultation. Download Planning Information Forms
The word "Probate" can strike fear into the heart of a family member who is named as the personal representative under a will. Our attorneys take the sting out of probate by patiently explaining the requirements of probate and carefully guiding you through the court process. Most of our estates are filed under unsupervised administration, a streamlined court process that saves the estate time and money. Legal fees for probate are paid from the estate proceeds. Some attorneys charge a percentage of the estate for attorney fees, which can be very costly. Mr. Costas and Mr. Mack charge an hourly rate for all legal services to promptly and effectively complete the estate administration. The fees will be discussed at the initial consultation.
A complete estate plan is a vital part of your financial plan. Proper planning can reduce taxes and estate fees and provide for management of your assets should you become incapacitated. Mr. Costas and Mr. Mack will make estate plan recommendations based upon your goals, objectives and budget. They bring a personal approach to estate planning - focusing on the individual client. Whether you need a will, trust or just a power of attorney, the attorneys will provide the appropriate documents and advice at a reasonable cost. For most clients, wills and advance directives are all that are necessary for an estate plan. Typically, for a couple, the cost runs around $600. If a living trust is necessary, the fee is usually between $1,250 and $2,000 depending on the complexity. The exact fee will be discussed at the initial consultation.
When buying selling or developing real estate, an experienced attorney will bring value to the transaction. Mr. Costas and Mr. Mack will carefully advise you regarding your real estate project and prepare the necessary documents in a timely fashion to keep it on track. Fees for real estatere presentation can range from around $400 for the preparation of a purchase agreement to hourly fees for other matters.
Although Mr. Costas and Mr. Mack recommend the use of advance directives (see Estate Planning) to avoid the necessity of a guardianship, guardianships are sometimes unavoidable. In essence, a guardianship is a court proceeding whereby an individual, usually an adult relative, is given the legal authority to manage the personal and/or financial affairs of another person who is unable to do so for themselves due to some form of incapacity. Such management occurs under Court supervision and the court-appointed guardian is required to make personal decisions for the health and welfare of the incapacitated person and/or manage income and assets for his or her benefit. Attorney’s fee of $750 plus filing fee costs is charged for an uncontested guardianship. Costas Law Offices provides legal services related to private adoptions. We are experienced in most adoption situations including interstate adoptions. Services are provided on an hourly basis with an initial estimate for completing the adoption. Many divorcing couples wage a long and costly battle through attorneys. The cost of this battle often includes emotional resentment that can last for years to come. David A. Mack is certified as a family law mediator. Mediation is a process which assists people to resolve the complex issues of a divorce with guidance. People can make informed decisions for temselves about division of property and parenting and financial responsibilities. Many courts are now referring contested divorces to mediation prior to hearing the case. But you need not wait for the court to refer your case to mediation. A mediated agreement usually costs less and takes less time. As a mediator, Mr. Mack will organize the discussion of issues and make sure that both spouses understand their options and the risks and benefits of each. Once an informed agreement is reached, Mr. Mack will ask each party to have it reviewed by their respective attorneys. Don't let a stranger make the important decisions related to a divorce, let Mr. Mack help both spouses decide what makes most sense for them and their children. For $75.00, Mr. Mack will provide a couple with an initial mediation consultation. |
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409 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383 • 219.548.7300
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