Most families actually need both — but elder law is the only one that protects you from care costs and incapacity holistically.  Our intake helps you understand which one your situation requires.

Estate Planning focuses on:

• What happens after death

• Wills & living trusts

• Estate tax issues

• Distributing assets

• Avoiding probate.

Elder Law focuses on:

• What happens while you’re still alive

• Medicaid eligibility & planning

• Long-term care costs

• Protecting assets during incapacity

• Updating estate documents with an aging lens

• Protection from financial exploitation and elder abuse

Signs you may benefit from one include:

• Your parent may soon need extra care, assisted living, or a nursing home

• You’re not sure how your family will afford long-term care

• You’ve heard of “Medicaid planning” but don’t know if it applies to you

• You want to understand your options before you spend down savings (or you’ve never heard of spend-down strategy!)

• You’re confused about legal tools like powers of attorney, guardianship, or trusts

• You want a simple plan for what to do over the next 6–24 months—both care-wise and financially

If you’re unsure, our guided intake and AI chat help clarify your situation and tell you what type of help you need.

Yes. Early planning helps you avoid expensive mistakes later. In Massachusetts, Medicaid has a 5-year “lookback period,” which means the state reviews any transfers or gifts you’ve made in the past five years. If planning isn’t done early (and done correctly) you could face penalties or delays in getting coverage for long-term care.

Documents like Medicaid-friendly powers of attorney, caregiver agreements, and other planning tools only work if they’re in place before a crisis happens. Starting early gives your family more options, protects more of your assets, and reduces stress when care needs suddenly change.

Earlier than most people think. The ideal time is before a health crisis or major care decision. Starting early gives you more options, protects more of your assets, and avoids penalties like the 5-year Medicaid lookback (especially important in states like Massachusetts).

Even if nothing urgent is happening, an early consultation ensures your documents are up-to-date, Medicaid-ready, and aligned with your care and financial goals.

Yes — completing the intake and receiving attorney matches is 100% free.

Each attorney is pre-vetted by our team for:

• Active state licensure and good standing

• Verified elder law specialization

• Years of relevant experience

• Clear, compassionate communication

• Consistent client feedback and professionalism

Many families do, but those documents often don’t cover the issues that matter most as you age. Elder law fills important gaps, like long-term care eligibility, protecting assets if someone gets sick, and reviewing documents to make sure they’re Medicaid-compliant.

Even if you already have a will or trust, these documents should be reviewed and updated every 3–5 years, or sooner if your health, finances, or family situation changes. We help you understand what still needs attention and what updates may protect you better moving forward.

No. Medicare does not pay for long-term care, such as assisted living, memory care, or nursing homes. It only covers short-term medical needs — for example, up to 100 days of rehab after a hospital stay, and only if you continue improving.

Long-term care (help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or dementia care) is paid for by:

• Private savings

• Long-term care insurance (if you already have it)

• Medicaid, but only if you meet strict financial and medical criteria

This is why early planning with an elder law attorney is so important — they help you understand costs, protect assets, and prepare for Medicaid before care becomes expensive.

Absolutely. Hestia lets you review multiple attorneys, compare their approaches during the 15 minute consultation, and choose the person who feels right for your family.

We know it’s important to meet the attorney you might work with, so we’ve arranged free 15-minute introductory calls with all of our vetted attorneys.

In this quick call, you’ll get a sense of the attorney’s style, how they work, the general process, and you can share your goals. You’ll also receive a high-level price estimate so you know what to expect before booking a full consultation.

The real work — and the attorney-client relationship — begins only if you choose to move forward.

Fees depend on your area and the complexity of your situation (ranges from 2K all the way to 15K!) With Hestia, your initial 15-minute call with an attorney is always free. If you decide to move forward after the consult, the attorney will quote you clear, flat-fee pricing for your specific situation before any work begins.

Yes, absolutely! Reach out to the Hestia team at team@hellohestia.co or give us a call at 617-297-7432. We’ll be happy to help at any point in the process.