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Tampa Bay Elder Law Center

Attorney Debra L. Dandar is a VA Accredited Attorney, and has an advanced legal degree (LL.M. – Masters of Law) in Elder Law. Attorney Dandar has personally dealt with issues facing Seniors, including those of her 94 year old grandmother, and issues facing Veterans in her own family, including those of her daughter who is an Army staff sergeant, and her son-in-law who is in Army Special Forces.

She believes that Seniors and Veterans should be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

A private law firm conveniently located one-half block East of Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. We handle estate planning for individuals of all ages and we are specially trained to consider the present and future need for nursing home care, assisted living facility (ALF) care, home health care, Veterans benefits, and disability benefits planning.

Elder Law

Medicaid planning is one of our areas of practice.  If you or a loved one are faced with a need for nursing home or assisted living facility (ALF) care, and you are concerned that the legacy built over a lifetime will be depleted to care for end-of-life medical expenses, we can offer advice on ways to protect some of those hard-earned assets. We offer crisis planning (now, or soon to be, in need of nursing home or ALF care), or non-crisis planning assistance (planning ahead to protect assets). Just as Federal tax laws provide specific tax loopholes which are legal ways to save on taxes, there are also many legal ways in which an individual may qualify for government benefits while still protecting some of their assets. Please call and schedule an appointment.  Let us explain how we may be able to help you or your loved one.

Estate Planning

Wills – Make sure that you are in charge of what happens after your death. Trusts – A powerful way to ensure that your assets are managed in the way that you desire, while helping to avoid the need for probate administration or guardianships. Durable Power of Attorney – Allows another individual to handle matters for you.  If you become unable to handle matters yourself, you can feel comfortable in knowing that someone else is able to handle things on your behalf.  A new Durable Power of Attorney law went into effect on October 1, 2011, and it makes significant changes.  Now may be a good time to change a Durable Power of Attorney that you may already have. Living Wills – Health Care Surrogate Designations – Advanced Care Directives – A Living Will or an Advanced Care Directive helps you to make your wishes known concerning your medical care and end of life decisions. A Health Care Surrogate Designation allows you to designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so. Special Needs Trusts – Help to provide for the unique requirements of those with disabilities, and helps to preserve an individual’s entitlement to government benefits.

Trust Administration

Let us help you with questions you may have about the proper administration of Trusts. Pre-planning alleviates the stress associated with opening probated estates. You will appreciate our informed assistance with every aspect of probate and trust during this time. Careful guidance is offered in determining the next steps in trust administration.

Medicaid Planning

Nursing Home, Assisted Living Facility and Home Health Care Benefits Medicaid planning is one of our areas of practice. If you or a loved one are faced with a need for nursing home or assisted living facility (ALF) care, and you are concerned that the legacy built over a lifetime will be depleted to care for end-of-life medical expenses, we can offer advice on ways to protect some of those hard-earned assets. We offer crisis planning (now, or soon to be, in need of nursing home or ALF care), or non-crisis planning assistance (planning ahead to protect assets). Just as Federal tax laws provide specific tax loopholes which are legal ways to save on taxes, there are also many legal ways in which an individual may qualify for government benefits while still protecting some of their assets. Please call and schedule an appointment. Let us explain how we may be able to help you or your loved one.

Veterans Benefits

Aid and Attendance / Low Income Veterans’ Pension – Have you ever heard about Aid and Attendance? If not, you are not alone. This is a benefit available to Veterans who have significant unreimbursed medical expenses. We can help you understand what benefits may be available to help pay for home health care, ALF or nursing home care. You may also be eligible for low-income pension. Please schedule an appointment to come in and discuss benefits which may be available to you, and how we may be able to help you qualify for those benefits. Please give us a call so that we can examine the facts of your case and see how we may be able to help.

Probate

When a loved one passes away, there are so many questions that you may have. We can guide you through the process of Probate Administration, and let you know what steps need to be taken next. The loss of a loved one is difficult enough. Let us work with you to make the Probate Administration process easier.

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Lynn is our Executive Admin / Wonder Woman of the office.  She does all the filing, printing, faxing, and scheduling for the entire office.  Like I said.. Wonder Woman.