Guidance for Life's Later Chapters — Elder Law in Sarasota, FL
Caring for an aging loved one — or planning for your own future — raises hard questions about money, care, and control. For 21 years, Whitmore & Fenn has guided Sarasota families through Medicaid, long-term care, and guardianship with patience, clarity, and genuine compassion.
How We Help Your Family
Whatever chapter you're facing, we're here to guide you — starting with a free, unhurried conversation.
Elder Law, Practiced With Heart
Elizabeth Whitmore and David Fenn built this firm around a simple conviction: the legal challenges of aging deserve not just expertise, but patience and genuine care. For 21 years, we've sat with Sarasota families at some of their most vulnerable moments and helped them find a way forward.
Elder law is different from ordinary estate planning. It's about protecting a lifetime of savings from the crushing cost of care, navigating Medicaid's maze, planning for a loss of capacity, and honoring a loved one's dignity every step of the way. We do this work because it matters — and we do it the way we'd want it done for our own parents.
- ✓21 years focused on elder and special needs law
- ✓$60M+ in family assets protected
- ✓Patient, plain-English guidance — never rushed
- ✓Free, unhurried initial consultation
Guidance You Can Lean On
In a stressful, emotional time, families need more than legal answers. They need a steady, caring partner.
We Take Our Time
We never rush you. We explain every option clearly and at your pace, until you feel confident.
We Protect What You've Saved
Medicaid and long-term care planning can shield a lifetime of savings from the cost of care.
We Plan Ahead
The best protection comes from planning early — but we can also help in a crisis.
We Guide the Whole Family
Aging affects everyone. We help adult children and spouses navigate hard decisions together.
We Know This Law Deeply
Elder law is complex and ever-changing. 21 years of focus means we get the details right.
We Honor Dignity
Every plan we build protects not just assets, but your loved one's independence and dignity.
Why Planning Early Changes Everything
Elder law rewards those who plan ahead. Here's what early planning protects — and what waiting can cost.
Protect Your Savings
Early Medicaid planning can legally shield assets that a last-minute scramble cannot. Time is your biggest advantage.
Keep Control of Care
Planning ahead means you decide where and how you're cared for — not a hospital or a court in a crisis.
Spare Your Family
A clear plan removes agonizing guesswork and conflict from your children's shoulders when the time comes.
Preserve Dignity
Documents like powers of attorney ensure a trusted person can act for you, honoring your wishes and independence.
Medicaid & Long-Term Care Planning
The cost of long-term care can exceed $100,000 a year — enough to erase a lifetime of savings in a matter of months. Many families believe they must 'spend down' everything before Medicaid will help. That is often simply not true.
With the right planning, we can help you qualify for the care coverage you need while legally protecting your home, your savings, and your spouse's security. Whether you're planning ahead or facing a care crisis right now, there are almost always more options than families realize.
- ✓Protect your home and savings from care costs
- ✓Qualify for Medicaid without spending down everything
- ✓Protect the healthy spouse's financial security
How We Work With You
From your first call to a plan that protects your family, the path is gentle, clear, and unhurried.
Free Consultation
We sit down together to understand your family's situation and answer your questions — at no cost and no pressure.
A Plan for Your Family
We recommend the right combination of planning tools and explain each one plainly, with clear, fixed fees.
Ongoing Care
We prepare and put your plan in place — and remain here for your family as needs change over time.
You May Need an Elder Law Attorney If…
Elder law helps in more situations than most families realize. These are the signs it's time for a conversation.
A loved one needs — or may soon need — long-term care
Nursing home, assisted living, or in-home care planning is best done before a crisis.
You're worried about the cost of care
If care costs could threaten your or a parent's savings, Medicaid planning may protect them.
A family member is losing capacity
Guardianship or powers of attorney may be needed so a trusted person can help.
You care for someone with special needs
A special needs trust can protect their benefits and their future care.
You want to plan ahead
The best outcomes come from planning early, while you still have every option available.
You're settling a loved one's estate
We guide families through probate and administration with patience and care.
Guardianship, Handled With Compassion
When a family member can no longer safely make decisions — because of dementia, illness, or injury — someone must step in to protect them. Guardianship is a serious step, and an emotional one, and no family should navigate it alone.
We guide you through the process with patience and respect, always centering your loved one's dignity and best interests. Where a less restrictive option exists, we'll help you find it. And where guardianship truly is needed, we make the legal path as gentle as it can be.
- ✓Compassionate guidance through guardianship
- ✓Your loved one's dignity centered throughout
- ✓Less-restrictive alternatives explored first
Families We've Guided Home
When Mom needed nursing home care, we were terrified of losing everything to pay for it. Whitmore & Fenn's Medicaid planning protected her savings and got her the care she needed. They gave our family peace of mind.
My father could no longer make decisions for himself, and I didn't know where to turn. They guided me through guardianship with such patience and kindness. I never felt rushed or confused. Truly compassionate people.
We planned our estate and long-term care together, years before we needed it. What a gift to our children. Whitmore & Fenn made a daunting subject feel manageable and even comforting. Worth every moment.
Our son has special needs, and we worried constantly about his future. They set up a special needs trust that protects his benefits and his care for life. We finally sleep at night. Forever grateful.
The kindest gift you can give your family is a plan. Schedule a free, unhurried consultation and let's protect what matters — together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between elder law and estate planning?
Estate planning focuses on passing your assets after death. Elder law focuses on the challenges of aging while you're living — protecting savings from care costs, qualifying for Medicaid, planning for a loss of capacity, and guardianship. Many families need both, and we handle both.
Isn't it too late to plan once a parent is already in care?
Rarely. Even after a loved one enters care, there are often 'crisis planning' strategies that can protect a meaningful portion of their savings and their spouse's security. The sooner you call, the more we can usually do — but it's seldom truly too late.
Will we have to spend everything before Medicaid helps?
Not necessarily. This is one of the most common and costly myths in elder law. With proper planning, we can often protect a home, savings, and a healthy spouse's security while still qualifying for Medicaid coverage.
How much does a consultation cost?
Your first consultation is free. We take the time to understand your family's situation, answer your questions, and explain your options — with no cost and no obligation to proceed.
What is guardianship, and when is it needed?
Guardianship is a legal arrangement that lets a trusted person make decisions for someone who can no longer make them safely. We only pursue it when necessary, always exploring less-restrictive options like powers of attorney first.
Do you offer fixed fees?
Yes. For most planning matters we offer clear, flat-fee pricing, so you'll know the full cost before we begin. We believe in transparency, especially during a stressful time.
Let's Talk About Your Family
Tell us a little about your situation and a Whitmore & Fenn attorney will reach out within one business day to arrange your free, unhurried consultation.