Alice J. MacAllister:
A Lawyer Who Cares
In my 24 years as a lawyer, I have gained great concern for the struggles faced by the elderly and their families. I am a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, and in my law practice I help seniors in any way I can. I volunteer with Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA) to provide free wills for low income seniors. Just a few main areas of elder law concern are:
Conservatorships:
When a person is incapacitated, unable to provide for himself or herself, or having trouble resisting undue influence, the best solution is often a conservatorship. A conservatorship involves the court appointment of a "conservator" for the person in question, In other states it is called a "guardianship." I always make sure that a conservatorship is the best option, and that everyone understands the situation. Since a conservatorship can be expensive and uncomfortable for the disabled elder, I explore all other alternatives to conservatorship before recommending one.
Medi-Cal:
Dealing with Medi-Cal is hard enough, with the mountains of regulations and frequent changes to the rules. It is especially difficult when you have to do it on behalf of a spouse or other loved one. I can help. I have studied the rules through and through and keep abreast of current developments. I have practiced in this area since the early 1980’s through the many changes in the law. Medicaid Planning Lawyers who don't charge exorbitant rates are hard to come by, which makes my work all the more important. I also help with Medi-Cal applications, healthcare proxies or any other elder health issue.
Estate Planning:
Though it is often hard to face the fact, it is vitally important for seniors to get their estates in order. An empathetic lawyer can make it easy and comfortable to undergo will preparation, create advance healthcare directives (a.k.a. durable powers of attorney), set up trusts (including irrevocable, defective grantor trusts), transfer assets, set up incapacity planning, and more. I can tailor your estate to fit your needs, all the while making you feel comfortable about the process. If you would prefer having a professional assist you with your financial affairs, I can recommend a trust officer or private fiduciary who can assist you on an ongoing basis. I often meet with my client and the family member (often an adult child) selected by my client to assist as agent and trustee.
Nursing Home or Assisted Living:
Often as a necessary component of both the elder law and estate planning processes is planning for nursing home care or getting some help at home or with an assisted living facility. I can guide people through the system, helping with nursing home applications or assisted living arrangements that make the best sense under their circumstances.
Most cases involve several or all of these practice areas, and I have a proven ability to deal with the various complexities that often arise. I enjoy figuring out such problems, but most of all, I enjoy using my capacity as an attorney to help people.
If you live in the San Jose California area, including Cupertino, CA, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale and Los Gatos, contact me today.
Alice J. MacAllister, Attorney at Law
Third Floor
1700 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 293-9223
Fax: (408) 971-4320
