Canellos & Patino - Wauwatosa, WI

Compassionate Elder Law and Estate Planning in Southeastern Wisconsin

Preparing for long-term health needs, safeguarding a vulnerable loved one, and passing down family assets require experienced legal foresight. Canellos & Patino, LLC, located at 631 North Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, has devoted decades of legal practice to serving aging individuals, persons with disabilities, and their families throughout the greater Milwaukee area. Founded by veteran elder law attorneys Angela E. Canellos and Blaine E. Patino, the firm combines extensive statutory knowledge with genuine empathy. When families need to find an attorney who understands the nuances of public benefits, special needs advocacy, and Wisconsin probate procedures, Canellos & Patino delivers thoughtful, personalized legal solutions.

Special Needs Planning and Supplemental Needs Trusts

Parents and caregivers of individuals with special needs face unique legal hurdles when structuring financial protection that does not compromise eligibility for vital governmental assistance, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Canellos & Patino excels in establishing custom special needs trusts:

• First-Party and Third-Party Special Needs Trusts: Structuring third-party trusts funded by family members or first-party trusts created with personal injury settlements or inheritances to preserve government benefits.
• Wispact Trust Administration: Guiding families through enrollment in Wisconsin pooled trusts (Wispact), where Attorney Blaine Patino serves on the governing board of directors.
• Transition Planning for Adulthood: Developing comprehensive roadmaps for disabled children reaching the age of eighteen, ensuring continuity of healthcare, residential placement, and financial administration.

Adult Guardianship and Protective Placement

When an elderly family member develops advanced dementia or a young adult with severe intellectual disabilities cannot safely manage personal or financial affairs, adult guardianship may become necessary. The firm provides sensitive court representation throughout the guardianship process:

• Petitioning the probate court for appointment of guardians of the person and guardians of the estate.
• Navigating Wisconsin Chapter 54 guardianship requirements and Chapter 55 protective placement evaluations.
• Representing family members in annual accounting reviews, examining alternative protective measures, and resolving contested guardianship petitions.

Title 19 Medicaid and Long-Term Care Planning

The cost of nursing home and memory care facilities can quickly deplete a lifetime of hard-earned savings. Canellos & Patino provides proactive and crisis Medicaid planning to assist aging clients in qualifying for Title 19 assistance while protecting spousal assets and family homes from divestment penalties and state estate recovery liens.

Comprehensive Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney

Every individual deserves peace of mind knowing their final wishes and healthcare decisions will be honored. Canellos & Patino drafts enforceable estate planning instruments, including revocable living trusts, last wills and testaments, healthcare powers of attorney, and durable financial powers of attorney, ensuring trusted family representatives hold authority without unnecessary court intervention.

Wisconsin Probate and Trust Administration

Following the loss of a loved one, the firm assists personal representatives and successor trustees with the formal and informal administration of estates in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and neighboring county courts, ensuring statutory notice requirements, asset distribution, and creditor deadlines are met smoothly.

Consult with Canellos & Patino Today

Whether you require proactive estate planning, urgent crisis guidance for nursing home entry, or special needs trust setup, the attorneys at Canellos & Patino, LLC are ready to help. Contact the Wauwatosa office to schedule a confidential legal consultation and secure your family's future.