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Melissa R Alden

Law Office of Melissa R. Alden

Melissa R Alden

Law Office of Melissa R. Alden

Melissa R Alden

Law Office of Melissa R. Alden

Attorney Melissa Alden became a member of the Massachusetts Bar in 2009 as well as the United States District Court of Massachusetts.  Prior to her completion of law school she has been employed full-time as a police officer for the Town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts.  Melissa has been a strong advocate for survivors of domestic abuse volunteering many hours as a board member to Independence House as well as accepting pro bono clients through such agencies as South Coast Legal Services, Women’s Bar Foundation and those that have sought out her help with no ability to pay.

Attorney Alden is of Counsel for Cape Cod Divorce and Mediation (www.capecoddivorcemediation.com ) handling divorce, custody, support and family law cases through full representation as well as Limited Assistance Representation (LAR).

As a result of Attorney Alden’s experience as a Yarmouth Police Officer and as a member of the Community Crisis Intervention Team (CCIT), she has developed a passion and expertise in handling sensitive family and community issues. These life experiences have led her to focus her practice on family and elder issues using many of the resources and contacts she has made throughout the years.

She looks forward to working with you and/or your family to help you navigate through the years and the various stages of your life. 

Firm Description

The Law Office of Melissa R. Alden offers the following Elder Law services:

                            Guardianships and Conservatorships (Elderly, Minors, Legally Incompetent)

                            Long-term Care Planning

                            Healthcare

                            Will, Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxies

                            Public Assistance Programs

Hours

Day From To
Sunday By Appointment Only
Monday 9:00 AM 3:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM 3:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM 3:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM 3:00 PM
Friday By Appointment Only
Saturday By Appointment Only

Cost

What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

23 East Main Street
West Yarmouth, MA 02673

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Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

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Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.

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Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.

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Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

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Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

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Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.

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ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.

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Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

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Retirement Planning

We explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.

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Senior Living

Find out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.

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Social Security

Get a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.

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Special Needs Planning

Learn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.

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Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

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