Suzanne LaBerge is a partner at Gruskin & LaBerge, PA.  She is an  Elder Law attorney dedicated to helping elders with  the complex problems facing them  today.  Ms. LaBerge represents clients  in matters relating to Medicare and Medicaid; wills, trusts and probate; advance directives; asset protection; and planning for disability. 

Ms. LaBerge graduated from the University of Mississippi and Stetson University College of Law.  She has had many years of courtroom experience litigating  real property, probate and family law matters.  Her   focus now is on the needs  of elderly persons and their families.  She is a member of the National Academy  of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the Association of Florida Elder law Attorneys (AFELA).   She has served on the Board of Directors for the Guardian Association of Pinellas County.

The Gruskin & LaBerge, PA office is client friendly and  ADA accessible with convenient off-street parking. 

Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid are Federal programs designed to help older people pay for  the cost of health care.  With very few exceptions, anyone 65 or over is eligible to receive Medicare.

Medicaid is a more complicated program, and eligibility is strictly limited. For Medicaid eligibility there is a two pronged test.  First, your physical or mental condition  must be so impaired that you have trouble performing the normal activities of daily living.  Second, there is a limit on the income you may receive and the value  of the assets  you may own.   

 If you or a member of your family is concerned about how to qualify for Medicaid, you should  consult with an Elder Law attorney.  The attorney can help you qualify financially  and can prepare the Medicaid application for you.

Wills, Trusts and Probate

Wills and trusts are documents that allow you to say where you want your assets to go after your death.  Probate is the process of winding up a deceased persons? affairs and distributing the assets as provided in the will.

Trusts can be used to avoid probate, to provide privacy regarding assets, to provide for your own care should you become incapacitated and to distribute assets to a beneficiary over a period of time under a trustee?s watchful eye. 

With the proper planning and documents in place, probate is an orderly process and not unduly expensive.  Small estates (under $75,000 in value) qualify for summary administration which is a faster, less expensive procedure.

Advance Directives

Advance Directives are documents that allow you to determine who will manage your affairs and your medical treatment in the event you should become incapacitated and unable to do so yourself.  The most often used Advance Directives are a Durable Power of Attorney; Living Will; Health Care Surrogate Designation; and HIPAA Release.

In a Durable Power of Attorney you name someone as your agent to handle your business affairs, bank accounts, investments and the like should you be unwilling or unable to do so.  If you become incapacitated, a Durable Power of Attorney can keep you out of a guardianship.

A Living Will is a document that allows you to determine in advance what measures should be taken to keep you alive should you be in a terminal condition.  The living will can address your wishes regarding the use of feeding tubes, ventilators, forced hydration and other medical procedures.

In a Health Care Surrogate Designation you name someone as your agent to make healthcare decisions should you be unable to speak for yourself.

The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Release allows your designated agent to get your medical information from doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and others.  

Please contact Suzanne LaBerge for further information regarding elder law issues.

Gruskin & LaBerge, PA can also provide the following services:

            Probate Litigation and Disputes

            Family Law and Divorce           

            Consumer Law

Evictions