Category: Elder Care and Special Needs Law
May Is National Elder Law Month
May 12, 2026 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
It’s National Elder Law Month. Elder law and special needs law are specialized areas of legal practice that focus on the unique needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities, while also providing support and guidance for their families. Our department at Barna, Guzy & Steffen, represents clients in simple to complex elder law and special needs planning matters. Our elder law and special needs attorneys provide counsel and advocacy on a variety of issues including, but not limited to, estate planning, asset protection or preservation, long-term care planning, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and special needs planning. Hiring an elder law and special needs attorney provides a holistic approach to planning for your future and legacy. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) campaign for 2026 National Elder Law Month is Protecting Rights, Fighting Scams. NAELA cites the Federal Trade Commission annual report to Congress, which showed an increase in the number of older adults reporting losses in an aggregate amount of $2.4 billion in 2024. Scams targeting older adults are becoming more sophisticated and even more harmful. Now is a great time to review your plan or connect with an elder law and special needs attorney to put a plan in place.
Read MorePotential Updates to Medicaid/Medical Assistance Benefits
April 17, 2025 | Cathryn ReherOur BGS Estate Planning Team has attorneys working with persons with disabilities of all ages and their families to help them obtain and maintain Medicaid/Medical Assistance benefits. There is a massive budget reconciliation package being fast tracked through Congress that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid. The impact could be very challenging for our elderly and disability populations. If you want to keep informed on the impact of the proposed budget cuts, the National Health Law Organization April 23, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. will be hosting a free webinar entitled Medicaid in the Crosshairs: Understanding the Threat and the Path Forward. You can find out more about this seminar and other resource materials at: https://healthlaw.org/resource/protect-medicaid-funding-series-2024/. UPDATE MAY 1, 2025:Governor Walz holds roundtable on proposed federal health care cuts: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNDHS/bulletins/3de7cde
Read MoreMSBA Elder Law Section Virtual Panel Coming Soon!
March 17, 2025 | Kate Frederickson
Elder Law is a broad practice area with numerous pathways to practice. The MSBA Elder Law Section is hosting a virtual panel on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, open to law students, new lawyers, and practicing attorneys who are interested in an elder law practice. We will have attorneys from different stages in their careers who handle various aspects of elder law who will share their journey into the practice. The panelists will share insight on things they wish they knew at the onset of their career in elder law and how they have developed their practice. The panel will offer excellent insights into the practice of elder law in Minnesota for those considering going into elder law. Presenters:Kate R. Fredrickson, Attorney, Barna, Guzy & SteffenBen Kaufman, Staff Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal ServicesElizabeth I. Wrobel, Attorney, Wrobel & Smith, PLLPJulian J. Zweber, Attorney at Law, Saint Paul, Minnesota This event is free to Law Students and New Admittee’s to the Bar. You can register here:https://mnbars.org/?pg=events&evAction=showDetail&eid=299336&evSubAction=listAll&utm_campaign=2024-12-new-lawyers-newsletter&utm_source=membercentralpublications&utm_medium=email&utm_content=march-2025
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