All families have their challenges. Siblings fight. Children demand fairness. Parents lay down the law. When the family dynamic enters the legal realm, in addition to the law, attorneys must arm themselves with a bit of psychology know-how, too.

Elder law attorneys rely on a heightened degree of human interaction. Focus on the human element is more heavily emphasized in this unique area of law because the tasks within it involve family dynamics, familial history, finances, healthcare, and strong emotions. It is all too common for confusion and disputes to arise, from asset disagreements to caregiver misunderstandings. The very act of creating a plan for one’s life and death may create conflict among family members, partners, and friends of the planner.

Attorneys focusing on areas of elder law can lessen, and even prevent, many potential complications through careful navigation of the particular family’s distinctive complexities. The key to mitigating future challenges and familial fighting can be summed up into one word: COMMUNICATION. Most conflicts arise when parties are not on the same page.

Causes of Family Conflict

Everyone enjoys the warm and magical feeling that comes with new love. People of all ages hope to experience the delights of finding someone to share their life with. For elder clients though, many have already spent many years with someone for which they cared deeply. For this group especially, finding someone new to spend the rest of their life with is an exciting and wonderful surprise.

Despite the wonder and excitement of an elder’s newfound relationship, remarriage in retirement is a pursuit not to be taken lightly. Too many seniors do not plan for remarriage prior to taking the plunge and suffer tremendous consequences as a result. With an estimated 50% of previously married seniors remarrying, premarital planning takes on a whole new importance – and typically requires the guidance of experienced legal professionals.

Elder law is an attractive and rewarding practice area for anyone passionate about helping people. And because it’s an area where there is seemingly unlimited potential for growth — with approximately 15 percent of the American population comprised of adults ages 65 and over — it can also be a very lucrative one.