The life care plan team can include the elder law attorney, the client, elder care coordinators, geriatric care managers, nursing or medical advisors, financial advisors, and others as needed.
A Caring Team with
a Personal Approach
St. Petersburg's Expert Estate And Medicaid Planning Attorneys
St. Petersburg Probate Attorney
Experienced Estate Planning & Probate Guidance for Families Across Florida
Planning for the future can feel overwhelming. Thinking about incapacity, long-term care, or the passing of a loved one is never easy — but having the right legal plan in place can bring peace of mind and lasting protection for your family.
At HKH Elder Law, we help individuals and families in St. Petersburg and throughout Florida navigate probate, estate planning, and elder law matters with clarity and confidence. Whether you are administering a loved one’s estate or creating a plan to protect your assets, our firm is here to guide you every step of the way.
Do you need guidance from a trusted St. Petersburg Probate Attorney? Call HKH Elder Law today at (727) 240-2350 or contact us online to schedule your consultation and get clear answers about your next steps.
Protecting Your Future Through Thoughtful Legal Planning
Every family’s needs are different. While our experience provides a strong legal framework, we take a personalized approach to understanding your goals and concerns. We are committed to helping you feel prepared, protected, and confident about what lies ahead.
Our Practice Areas
We provide a wide range of estate planning and probate services, including:
- Probate– Guiding personal representatives through Florida’s court-supervised estate process
- Estate Planning – Creating customized plans designed to protect your assets and loved ones
- Will Drafting – Clearly outlining your wishes and appointing trusted decision-makers
- Trust Planning & Administration – Structuring and managing trusts to preserve wealth and minimize conflict
- Medicaid Asset Protection Planning – Helping families prepare for long-term care while safeguarding assets
- Guardianships – Assisting families in establishing legal protections for vulnerable loved ones
- Health Care Directives & Living Wills – Ensuring your medical wishes are honored
Our goal is simple: to help you build a plan that provides security today and stability for tomorrow
Understanding the Florida Probate Process
Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased person’s assets and resolving outstanding debts. In Florida, the personal representative is required to have legal representation to help navigate this often complex procedure.
Assets involved in probate may include:
- Financial accounts
- Real estate titled solely in the decedent’s name
- Certain life insurance policies
- Other individually owned assets
The length of probate depends on the size and complexity of the estate. While every situation is different, many Florida estates can be settled within approximately one year.
If you are serving as a personal representative, having experienced legal guidance can make the process far more manageable and reduce the risk of costly errors.
Why Families Choose HKH Elder Law
Families throughout St. Petersburg choose HKH Elder Law because of our experience, credentials, and genuine commitment to the community. We combine advanced legal knowledge with personalized service to help clients feel confident and supported at every stage of the process.
- Board-Certified Expertise in Elder Law: HKH Elder Law is led by our founding attorney, a Board-Certified Specialist in Elder Law certified by both The Florida Bar and the National Elder Law Foundation — a distinction earned by only a small percentage of attorneys statewide. This advanced certification reflects our firm’s deep knowledge and commitment to excellence in estate planning, probate, and elder law matters.
- Deep Roots in St. Petersburg: Our firm is proudly rooted in the St. Petersburg community. With decades of service to local families, HKH Elder Law understands the unique needs of Florida residents and remains committed to providing trusted legal guidance close to home.
- Leadership in the Legal Community: HKH Elder Law maintains active involvement in respected professional organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Our firm’s leadership experience and prior work within the judicial system — including involvement in establishing the Elder Justice Center — reflect our dedication to improving access to justice for seniors and families.
- Commitment to Community Service: Community service is central to our firm’s values. Through leadership roles and volunteer efforts with local organizations serving individuals with developmental disabilities and other community initiatives, HKH Elder Law remains deeply engaged in supporting the people and families we serve.
- Personalized, Client-Focused Service: Estate planning and probate matters are deeply personal. Our team takes the time to listen carefully, answer questions thoroughly, and develop tailored legal strategies aligned with your specific goals and circumstances.
Take the First Step Toward Peace of Mind
You deserve to feel confident that your family and your legacy are protected.
Whether you need guidance through the probate process or want to build a comprehensive estate plan, HKH Elder Law is here to help. Our firm is committed to helping St. Petersburg families plan wisely, protect what matters most, and move forward with clarity.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and begin creating a plan that supports your future.
Speak with an experienced St. Petersburg Probate Attorney today and take the first step toward protecting your family’s future.
Expert Firm That Takes Care of Clients Like Family
We Have The Expertise To Provide You With The Advice That You Need To Make Informed, Confident Decisions. We Are Here To Help Meet Your Needs And To Build A Trusted Relationship.
See What Our Clients Have To Say
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Kathleen and her staff are a superb team: compassionate, knowledgeable and skilled.- Sabine
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Wow! I have never done this before, and they took such great care of me.- Kelly
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My husband and I recently went to HKH Elder Law to get our wills done. What a great person Kathleen is, as well as the rest of the staff. We felt like family when we left.- Sindy
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Just completed Estate Planning with Kathleen. A very kind, knowledgeable and professional experience- Sheri
The HKH Elder Law Team
Committed to Helping Families
Why Hire HKH Elder Law
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We Are Client Focused & Results Driven
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When You Hire Us, You Get The Whole Team
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You Can Expect Fast Response Times
Need Answers to Your Questions?
You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.
Whether you are wondering about estate planning or the rights that your elderly loved one is entitled to, there are many questions people have when dealing with these issues.
Part of what makes creating a will or trust so intimidating is that few people understand what it entails or where to even begin. Like most things in life, estate planning becomes less of a daunting task once you start learning the process.
You don’t have to do this alone. Our knowledgeable estate planning lawyers can guide through the entire process step-by-step. We encourage our clients to ask questions and have an open dialogue with our staff to ensure that they get the most of out of our services. We are here to help meet your needs and built a trusted relationship.
Contact us today at (727) 240-2350!
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Who is part of the life care plan Team?
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What does a life care plan do?
A life care plan explains how the elder law attorney will protect and maximize the elder’s physical, legal, and financial well-being from the day the plan is created until the end of his or her life.
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Can Medicaid take my assets after I die?The assets of a deceased person who has received Medicaid benefits are at risk of being taken by the state to repay for Medicaid services provided. Thorough consideration of Medicaid estate recovery should be part of good Medicaid planning by an elder law attorney.
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What about just putting the money into a Medicaid Annuity?
People finding themselves in a situation where a family member is going into the nursing home are sometimes led to believe that the purchase of an annuity is the best or even the only way out. This is rarely the case. In fact, the use of annuities in Medicaid planning is useful in only a very small percentage of cases. Often, the case can be handled in other ways that are more advantageous to the Medicaid applicant and family.
An annuity, when purchased, leaves the person locked into what is usually a low-yielding investment, with the remainder possibly going to Medicaid.
Medicaid laws, rules, and interpretations are constantly changing. Before you rely upon any Medicaid information or advice, you should make sure your advisor knows all the facts of your particular situation and the most current Medicaid laws, rules and interpretations.
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Can I give away money without penalty?
Most often not. There is a type of gifting that applies to federal estate tax issues but not Medicaid issues. There are a few specific times when one can gift money without penalty.
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Why can’t I just give it to my children and then apply?
Medicaid rules do not allow you to give away money within a certain time period called the lookback. If you give away money within that period you could make yourself ineligible for Medicaid for a long time.
Let's Stay in Touch!
You can find knowledgeable guidance for complex legal issues such as estate planning, wills & trusts, Medicaid, probate, elder law, and more at HKH Elder Law.