--- ames_version: "0.9" canonical_url: "https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/elder-law/" publisher: "Heritage Law Partners" title: "Elder Law | Heritage Law Partners" locale: "en" permissions: index: 1 ephemeral: 1 store: 1 train: 1 content: zone: "article" --- [//]: # (ames:zone site-wrapper) [//]: # (ames:zone site-header) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone site-header) ![Heritage Law Partners](https://heritagelawpartners.com/assets/images/temp/logo-lg.png) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone site-header) - [Client Login](https://clients.heritagelawpartners.com/) - [(314) 325 -9444](tel:3143259444) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone primary-navigation) - [Home](https://heritagelawpartners.com/) - [Services](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services) - [Estate Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/estate-planning) - [Special Needs Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/special-needs-planning) - [Elder Law](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/elder-law) - [Trust Administration](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) - [Probate](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) - [Adult Guardianships](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/adult-guardianships) - [Entity Formation](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/entity-formation) - [Articles](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles) - [About Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://heritagelawpartners.com/contact) [//]: # (ames:zone page-main) [//]: # (ames:zone article) [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone article) # Elder Law [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ### Guidance for Life's Later Chapters Getting older doesn't mean giving up control. It means making sure the right plans are in place so that your wishes are honored, your assets are protected, and your family knows exactly how to support you when the time comes. The best time to plan is before a crisis, but wherever you are in the process, it is not too late to take the next step. At Heritage Law Partners, we help seniors and their families navigate the legal side of aging with compassion and clarity. Our approach is rooted in a simple principle: you deserve to be treated with dignity, and your plan should reflect your values, your preferences, and your independence for as long as possible. ##### Estate Planning for Seniors Whether you have an outdated estate plan that needs updating or have never created one at all, we help you build a strategy that addresses the realities of aging. This includes ensuring the right people are in place to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf, that your assets are properly titled and protected, and that the transition of care happens smoothly if and when it's needed. If you or a loved one are dealing with a recent diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer's, or another progressive condition, time is often the most urgent factor. We work with families to act quickly and thoughtfully, putting protections in place while you can still participate in the planning process. ##### Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives Among the most important tools for seniors are durable powers of attorney and healthcare directives. These documents ensure that someone you trust can step in to manage your finances, coordinate your medical care, and make decisions that align with your wishes. Without these documents in place, your family may face the costly and emotional process of seeking court intervention, a situation that can be avoided with proper planning. ##### Medicaid Planning For some families, the cost of long-term care raises serious concerns about preserving a lifetime of savings. Medicaid can be an essential resource for covering nursing home and long-term care costs, but eligibility rules are complex and the consequences of mistakes can be significant. We help families understand their options, including how certain planning strategies may help protect assets while qualifying for the benefits you need. Because Medicaid rules change frequently and vary by situation, we work closely with each family to develop a strategy tailored to their specific circumstances. ##### Supporting Your Family Through the Process Planning for the future, or navigating a difficult transition, can bring up strong emotions for everyone involved. Disagreements between family members, caregiver burnout, and uncertainty about the right path forward are all common. As a certified mediator offering elder mediation services, Managing Partner Eliana Emery helps families work through these decisions together, reducing conflict and keeping your well-being at the center of every conversation. Whether you are planning proactively for the years ahead or responding to an urgent situation, Heritage Law Partners is here to help you and your family find a path forward with confidence and care. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. [//]: # (ames:zone related) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone related) ### Related Pages & Resources Explore our practice areas and resources to learn more about estate planning, special needs planning, and how Heritage Law Partners can help protect your family's future. [//]: # (ames:zone related-navigation) - [About Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/contact) - [Articles](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles) - [Client Login](https://clients.heritagelawpartners.com/) - [Estate Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/estate-planning) - [Special Needs Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/special-needs-planning) - [Probate](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) - [Trust Administration](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) - [Guardianships](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/adult-guardianships) [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) #### Schedule a Consultation Take the first step towards comprehensive estate planning, special needs planning, or probate services with a personalized consultation with one of our attorneys. [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ## Latest Articles on Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Special Needs Planning [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![photo of a couple considering whether they need a will or a trust](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ea5fe8en/production/e25717260e3b599648fa49084c725a2ae71937a1-4096x2160.jpg) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ##### [Revocable Living Trust vs. Will: Which Does a Missouri Couple Actually Need?](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles/revocable-living-trust-vs-will-which-does-a-missouri-couple-actually-need) Most Missouri couples assume a will is enough. Learn when a revocable living trust makes more sense, what it actually does, and how to know which plan is right for your family. [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![photo of a baby - an example of when to update a trust](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ea5fe8en/production/8ef205bcdc35417a36d878d0c0539af369d1b2fc-3072x2048.jpg) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ##### [When Should You Update Your Trust? A Guide for Missouri Families](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles/when-should-you-update-your-trust-a-guide-for-missouri-families) A trust is not a one-and-done document. Learn which life events require an update, what goes wrong when families skip the review, and when to call your estate planning attorney. [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![photo of a child with down's syndrome who will need a special needs trust](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ea5fe8en/production/35159a6b56b3e7c86df92d66ad0afecb8865fca3-8256x5504.jpg) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ##### [What Is a Special Needs Trust and How Does It Protect My Child’s Benefits?](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles/what-is-a-special-needs-trust-and-how-does-it-protect-my-childs-benefits) A special needs trust lets your child with a disability receive an inheritance without losing SSI or Medicaid. Learn the difference between first-party and third-party SNTs and how to choose the right one. [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![](https://heritagelawpartners.com/assets/images/temp/ico-quotes-lg.png) > Eliana is the most helpful attorney I have ever worked with. She is always kind, and extremely efficient in what she does. She is wonderful attorney who will treat you with respect and get the job done right. Heritage Law Partners Client [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) ## Schedule a Consultation ### Get Experienced Guidance When It Matters Most [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) Take the first step towards comprehensive estate planning, special needs planning, or probate services with a personalized consultation with one of our attorneys. [//]: # (ames:zone site-footer) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone site-footer) ![Heritage Law Partners](https://heritagelawpartners.com/assets/images/temp/logo-footer.png) [//]: # (ames:zone site-footer) Copyright ©2026 Heritage Law Partners, All Rights Reserved The choice of a lawyer is an important one and should not be based solely on advertising [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone site-footer) #### Addresses ###### Olivette Office ###### Chesterfield Office [//]: # (ames:zone site-footer) #### Contacts ###### New Appointments ###### Existing Clients ###### Fax Number [//]: # (ames:zone site-footer) #### Our Firm [//]: # (ames:zone footer-navigation) - [About Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/contact) - [Articles](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles) - [Client Login](https://clients.heritagelawpartners.com/) - [Estate Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/estate-planning) - [Special Needs Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/special-needs-planning) - [Probate](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) - [Trust Administration](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) - [Guardianships](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/adult-guardianships)