Christopher B. Kroll & Associates

Elder Law, Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorney in Shelby Township, Michigan

Many families don't begin looking for an elder law attorney until a parent needs assisted living or nursing home care. By that point, decisions about paying for care, protecting assets, and qualifying for Medicaid often become urgent. Planning ahead can create more options, but legal guidance may still be available even after long-term care has become necessary.

Christopher B. Kroll & Associates focuses on elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate, and trust administration. The practice is centered on helping older adults and their families prepare for incapacity, manage long-term care concerns, and transfer assets according to their wishes.

How Can You Prepare Before Incapacity?

A serious illness, stroke, or dementia diagnosis can leave someone unable to make financial or medical decisions. Without the proper legal documents in place, family members may have to seek court authority before they can help.

The firm assists clients with estate planning that includes wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, financial powers of attorney, and medical powers of attorney. These documents are intended to help families prepare for future incapacity while preserving as much personal decision-making as possible.

Making Sure a Trust Is Properly Funded

Creating a trust does not by itself place a family's property into the trust. After the documents are signed, assets may need to be retitled or otherwise coordinated with the estate plan so that the trust can function as intended.

Christopher B. Kroll & Associates assists clients with the trust-funding process. The firm's planning materials address funding instructions, certificates of trust, assignments, and deeds used to transfer or document ownership of different types of property. This can be particularly important for families using a trust to manage assets during incapacity or to keep trust property outside the probate process after death.

Planning for Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Costs

The cost of long-term care is one of the biggest financial concerns facing many Michigan families. Whether planning years in advance or responding to an immediate need for nursing home care, families often want to understand what options may be available before personal savings are exhausted.

Christopher B. Kroll & Associates advises clients on long-term care planning and Medicaid planning, helping families evaluate eligibility requirements, prepare Medicaid applications, and consider planning strategies permitted under Michigan law.

Protecting a Spouse and Family Assets

When one spouse requires long-term care, the other spouse may worry about maintaining financial security while paying for care.

The firm's elder law practice includes planning for married couples facing long-term care decisions, helping families understand the legal rules that affect Medicaid eligibility, asset protection, and financial planning during a spouse's illness.

When Court Intervention Becomes Necessary

Sometimes no power of attorney exists, or an individual has already lost the capacity to manage personal or financial affairs. In those situations, families may need to petition the probate court for legal authority to act.

Christopher B. Kroll & Associates represents clients in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, helping families navigate the legal process when court-appointed decision-makers become necessary.

Helping Families Through Probate and Trust Administration

After the death of a loved one, personal representatives and trustees are responsible for settling the estate, paying debts, managing assets, and distributing property according to Michigan law.

The firm assists clients with probate administration and trust administration, providing guidance to fiduciaries as they carry out these responsibilities and helping families address legal issues that arise during the administration process.

Planning for Veterans and Their Families

Older veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for benefits that help offset the cost of long-term care or in-home assistance, but determining eligibility and completing the application process can be challenging.

Christopher B. Kroll & Associates includes veterans benefits planning as part of its elder law practice, assisting eligible families in exploring available benefits alongside broader estate and long-term care planning.

A Shelby Township Practice Focused on Aging and Estate Planning

Christopher B. Kroll has practiced law since earning his J.D. from Detroit College of Law in 1984. Before his elder-law and estate-planning practice, he worked as a Bank Trust Officer for Michigan National Bank and as a financial consultant with Salomon Smith Barney. That background is particularly relevant to a practice involving trusts, asset management, long-term-care planning, and the financial consequences families may face as a parent or spouse ages.

With offices in Rochester and Dearborn, Christopher B. Kroll & Associates serves clients throughout southeastern Michigan seeking guidance with elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate, trust administration, and long-term care planning.

Practice Areas

• Elder Law

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Trusts

• Irrevocable Trusts

• Financial Powers of Attorney

• Medical Powers of Attorney

• Medicaid Planning

• Long-Term Care Planning

• Probate

• Probate Administration

• Trust Administration

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships

• Veterans Benefits Planning

• Estate Plan Reviews