CELA case studies
CELA · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation is issued by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), which describes itself as the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys in elder and special needs law. NELF reports over 500 CELAs nationwide. The CELA case studies are 5 cases and about 3,151 words.
1Community Spouse Resource Allowance and the Premature Trust Transfer
Rose, 79, cares for her husband, Sam, 83, who entered a nursing home 40 days ago after a stroke. Sam has Medicare and a supplemental policy; the nursing home bills 13,800 monthly.
723 words, about 4 min2Capacity to Revoke a Power of Attorney Amid Family Conflict
Eighty-eight-year-old Miriam lives alone in a two-story home. Her daughter, Elena, holds a durable power of attorney executed in 2019 and has made 64,000 in transfers from Miriam's account to Elena's son over 14 months.
591 words, about 3 min3Inheritance, SSI, and Choosing a Special Needs Vehicle
Jeremy, 34, has cerebral palsy and receives 943 monthly SSI and Medicaid waiver services. He lives in a rented apartment and has a 1,200 monthly personal care aide paid by the waiver.
622 words, about 3 min4Estate Recovery Against a Revocable Trust and the Caregiver Child Claim
Walter, 76, died in a nursing home after three years of Medicaid coverage. His home, worth 320,000, was titled in a revocable living trust created in 2018; the trust named his daughter, Susan, as successor trustee and beneficiary, with remainder to his two grandchildren.
616 words, about 3 min5Third-Party SNT Drafting for Equal Treatment of Siblings
Priya and Anand have 800,000 in savings, a 500,000 home, and two children: Maya, 22, a college senior, and Rohan, 19, who has autism and receives 943 monthly SSI and Medicaid waiver services. Their current wills leave everything equally to the children outright.
599 words, about 3 min