Elder Law, Veterans’ Rights,
Estate Planning And Probate
In Willmar, Minnesota

Prepare Yourself And Your Family For The Future

Due to precautions related to COVID-19, we have expanded our options for remote consultations. Please contact our office to discuss whether a phone consultation or video conference meeting may be more appropriate than an office meeting for your situation.

Wermerskirchen Law Office, P.A., helps people prepare for and manage difficult transitions in their lives and those of their loved ones. We provide experienced representation for many issues in estate planning, probate, elder law and more.

Our office is in Willmar, Minnesota, and we represent people throughout Kandiyohi County and West Central Minnesota.

Attorney Mark Wermerskirchen has been practicing law for more than 30 years. Mark was drawn to estate planning and elder law after witnessing what his own family members went through as they got older and spent time in nursing homes. The experience left him committed to defending the rights of seniors and helping them to prepare their finances and legal affairs so that his clients will be ready to tackle long term care costs associated with the aging process.

To learn more about our attorney, follow the link below:

Estate Planning And Probate

Estate planning is a field of the law known for wills, trusts and other tools that may not go into effect until years after they are drafted. It requires a lawyer with patience, knowledge and careful attention to detail.

But this is not to say that estate planning is dry or boring. At heart, estate planning is a way of protecting yourself, providing for your loved ones and favorite charities, and saving your family from a lot of uncertainty and frustration. A good estate plan, developed with an experienced lawyer, is a gift you give to yourself and your loved ones.

Protecting Elders And Veterans

Our elder law practice assists clients with preparing for legal and financial difficulties, that client’s may face as they age. We help by exploring ways to pay for long term care and other needs, and prepare power of attorneys, health care directives so that important decisions can be made in the futures with as little difficulties as possible.

We also help veterans and their families understand their rights in the often-difficult world of veterans’ benefits, so that they can get the help they deserve.

Nursing Home Payment Planning

One of the most common concerns of clients is how to pay for long-term care or nursing home stays. Based upon, Mark’s 30+ years of experience, he will review with clients options related to private pay, long-term care insurance, Vet home eligibility and related program eligibility, Medicaid (M.A., Medical Assistance) eligibility, Medicare eligibility for payment in a long-term care facility, as well as a hospital and home health care coverage, and asset-based long-term care insurance planning. All of these planning options involve sharing of much information and analyzing of a client’s particular situation to find the approach which would be best suited for an individual client. Mark’s years of experience allows him to efficiently address the various options and assist clients in moving forward with an appropriate plan.

Medicaid (Medical Assistance) Eligibility

The vast majority of individuals residing in a nursing home or long-term care facility rely upon Medicaid (MA, Medical Assistance) for assistance in paying for their costs that can range anywhere from $5,000 to $13,000 per month, per person (2019 – most common rates for West Central Minnesota). Planning options for single persons or widows or widowers is much different than planning for a couple where one of the spouses will be residing at home and the other spouse is in a nursing home or long-term care facility. Mark will use his 30+ years of experience to review current Medicaid eligibility requirements and what actions clients can legally take to obtain eligibility as quickly as possible, but while always complying with the law that applies to their situation. Mark has been able to help numerous clients who were turned down, or turned away, by other attorneys who are not familiar with the Medicaid eligibility laws and rules, and provide clients with actions they can implement to become eligible as quickly as possible.

Wills and Trusts

All clients should have a will, or possibly a trust, setting forth their desires as to who should receive their assets at the time of their death, and who the client would like to nominate as their personal representative/executor/trustee. For clients who choose not to have a will and who do not properly designate 100% of all their assets, they will be left to having a will forced upon them by the laws passed by the legislature, often referred to as a forced will. Clients feel better and are empowered when they can direct who is to receive their assets, when someone will get the asset, and what restrictions, if any, that should be placed on any recipients, and selecting appropriate individuals to handle their estate. Also, if clients want to leave assets or monies to charities, it is critical that the will and/or trust set forth those intentions, along with any appropriate beneficiary designations.

Real Estate

Our office assists all clients with their real estate holdings and planning options most appropriate for the particular client. Services may include transfers to trusts, outright gifts, creation of life estates with remainder interest, or transfer to an appropriate entity or, where appropriate, continued ownership with a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) designation.

Class Actions

Our office assists all clients with their real estate holdings and planning options most appropriate for the particular client. Services may include transfers to trusts, outright gifts, creation of life estates with remainder interest, or transfer to an appropriate entity or, where appropriate, continued ownership with a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) designation.

Contact Us

To learn more about our services, call us at 320-403-2386 to schedule an appointment. You can also contact us by email.