Handle Your Legal Needs Correctly

William (Bill) Alexander is one of North Carolina’s most trusted Advisors in the areas of:

Guardianships, Medicaid, Veteran Benefits, Family and Business Succession Planning,

and Probate and Trust Planning and Execution.

Bill is a member of the Estate Planning and Elder Law Sections of the NC Bar Association.

He is currently active with WealthCounsel, the Mid-South Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys, the Advisors Forum, ElderCounsel,

& the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

He was named the Elder law Attorney of the Year in 2011 by the NC Chapter of NAELA.

We Know Legalities Matter

We know that it is important to have understanding and representation to be able to protect what matters most to you.

Estate/Business Succession Planning

Quality estate planning allows you to plan for yourself and your loved ones without giving up control of your affairs. Your estate plan should allow you to plan for the possibility of your own disability. You should be able to give what you own to whom you want to receive it, the way you want them to receive it, and when you want them to receive it.

Guardianships

Many Americans have no legal documents at all. There is a large number who have documents, but not the right documents. If this is true for you, and you or your loved one can no longer make important decisions or sign documents, you are relegated to go to court to obtain the authority to act. We go to court to get you the authority you need to make medical or financial decisions for a loved one. We frequently seek permission and obtain orders allowing gifts from one spouse to the other, generally for asset protection or government assistance purposes.

Medicaid

Medicaid applicants must meet both an income test and an asset test. Different income and assets tests apply, depending on whether the applicant is married or single. It is important to note that a couple can own over $600,000 of countable property, plus an unlimited amount of non-countable assets and still qualify. Often the Medicaid rules can be confusing for those who are unfamiliar with them, and it can be difficult to apply and be accepted for Medicaid without professional assistance.

Probate and Trust

The death of a loved one is an emotional time for his or her family members; those left behind must often deal with stressful decisions as to how that loved one’s estate should be handled. This can be a difficult time, and it is often necessary to take important steps within the legal system following a death in the family.

Veteran Benefits

There is a special program for war period veterans or their spouses and widows called the Improved Pension Benefit that pays a reimbursement for long term care expenses. With proper planning, the war period veteran, spouse, or the veteran’s widow can qualify for pension moneys and other assistance, while preserving family assets. This pension will help the family pay for long-term health care needs and avoid the depletion of the claimant’s assets.