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Wesley Fitzwater

Fitzwater Meyer Hollis & Marmion, LLP

Wesley Fitzwater

Fitzwater Meyer Hollis & Marmion, LLP

Wesley Fitzwater

Fitzwater Meyer Hollis & Marmion, LLP

I am a partner in the law firm of Fitzwater Meyer Hollis & Marmion, LLP. My practice emphasizes legal and crisis issues faced by the elderly and their families, including incapacity, guardianship and conservatorship, long-term care, and end-of-life concerns. I am a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and have received numerous recognitions and awards for my work.

I am a frequent speaker to senior groups as well as Oregon attorneys. I am an author and instructor on topics including long-term care and Medicaid planning, incapacity, guardianships and conservatorships, legal ethics and professionalism. I am also the co-editor of the Oregon State Bar publication entitled The Elder Law Handbook, a reference book for Oregon attorneys.

Born and raised in Oregon, I come from a family of attorneys with both my father and grandfather serving in the profession. I hold a B.S. from Willamette University in Salem and a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in Tacoma, Washington.

EDUCATION

University of Puget Sound School of Law - J.D. (1981)

ORGANIZATIONS

Multnomah Bar Association (MBA)

Clackamas County Bar Association (CCBA)

Oregon State Bar, Elder Law Section

Oregon State Bar, Estate Planning and Administration Section

Clackamas County Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Team

Multnomah and Clackamas County Probate Court Advisory Committees

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)

Guardian/Conservator Association of Oregon

AWARDS

In 1988, Wes received the Firm Award from the Multnomah County Senior Law Project or "outstanding demonstration of leadership and commitment to ensuring legal redress for the low-income elderly."

In 1989, Wes received the OSB President’s Public Service Award, given by the President of the Oregon State Bar for "outstanding volunteer law-related service to the public."

In 1993, Wes received an Award from the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners for his work with senior citizens in Multnomah County.

In 2000, Wes and his law partner, Donna R. Meyer, received the Volunteer of the Year award from the Alzheimers Association for several years of speaking to and providing training to Alzheimers support groups.

In 2006, Wes received the OSB President’s Membership Service Award, given by the President of the Oregon State Bar Association for "volunteer law-related services on behalf of Oregon lawyers."

In 2012, 2013, and 2014 Wes was selected as a "Oregon Super Lawyer" by superlawyers.com.

Firm Description

For more than 80 years, Fitzwater Meyer Hollis & Marmion, LLP, has served Oregon clients with specialized advice and assistance. We are one of Oregon's largest and most respected Elder Law and Estate Planning firms.

Our areas of specialty include:

* Estate and Tax Planning
* Elder Law, Disability Law
* Special Needs Trust Planning
* Medicaid Planning/Long-Term Care
* Guardianships and Conservatorships
* Probate/Probate Litigation/Elder Abuse
* Real Estate and Business

Hours

Please contact this attorney for firm hours by clicking here.

Cost

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What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

6400 SE Lake Rd
Suite 440
Portland, OR 97222

On the web

View Firm Website


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.

READ MORE
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.

READ MORE
Grandchildren

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

READ MORE
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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