Business Details
29 Years
experience
Your Trusted Elder Law Experts in San Diego
Founded in 1997, San Diego Elder Law Center has dedicated over 25 years to protecting the legal rights, financial security, and dignity of San Diego's elder, disabled, and special needs communities. Our practice focuses on Medi-Cal planning, special needs trusts, probate, and life-care planning, guided by Certified Elder Law Attorney Philip Lindsley, who brings 41 years of specialized experience. We combine deep expertise in public benefits law with personalized advocacy, helping families navigate complex legal challenges while preserving assets and ensuring quality care.Our team's commitment to ethical standards and client-centered solutions has established us as a trusted leader in elder law, with a proven track record of successful case outcomes and community recognition. Through proactive planning and compassionate representation, we empower clients to secure their family's future while maintaining independence and dignity.
Services
Medi-Cal Planning
Special Needs Trusts
Probate Services
Life-Care Planning
Estate Planning
Conservatorships
Trust Administration
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- We offer 41 years of specialized elder law experience with a Certified Elder Law Attorney
- Our team provides personalized asset protection strategies for Medi-Cal eligibility
- We guarantee comprehensive life-care planning with advocacy services included
- Our firm maintains a 98% client satisfaction rate over 25+ years
- We offer integrated estate planning with public benefits preservation expertise
Associations and certifications
- National Elder Law Foundation
What people say
Exemplary service
Professional expertise
Compassionate guidance
Successful outcomes
Patient support
Services
Medi-Cal Planning
Our Medi-Cal planning specialists help families qualify for nursing home coverage while preserving assets. We implement strategies to minimize share-of-cost payments and avoid state recovery actions. With changes to California's eligibility rules, our team provides up-to-date guidance on asset protection techniques that maintain benefit eligibility for long-term care services.
Special Needs Trusts
We create customized special needs trusts that protect public benefit eligibility while providing supplemental resources. Our attorneys draft third-party trusts that avoid disqualifying provisions and maintain flexibility for future care needs. We also advise on ABLE account integration and trustee selection to ensure lifelong support for beneficiaries.
Probate Services
Our probate attorneys streamline estate administration through summary proceedings when possible. We represent executors and beneficiaries in asset distribution, debt resolution, and tax compliance. With over 40 years of experience, we efficiently navigate formal probate processes while protecting client interests and minimizing delays.
Life-Care Planning
We develop comprehensive life-care plans that integrate legal, financial, and medical needs. Our elder care coordinator advocates for quality facility placement and service delivery. We help families access community resources while implementing legal protections that maintain client autonomy and dignity.
Estate Planning
Our customized estate plans include trusts, wills, and powers of attorney designed for public benefits recipients. We incorporate specialized provisions to maintain Medi-Cal eligibility while preserving family assets. Our integrated approach ensures coordinated document execution that addresses both disability and post-mortem planning needs.
People
Philip P. Lindsley
Founding Attorney
With 41 years of elder law experience, Philip is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation and State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning. He has served San Diego's elder community since founding the firm in 1997.
Scott F. Templeton
Partner
Scott brings extensive experience in probate and trust administration, assisting families with estate planning and Medi-Cal qualification strategies while maintaining a client-focused approach.
Joseph Park
Associate Attorney
Joseph specializes in special needs planning and life-care coordination, helping families navigate complex public benefits systems while protecting client assets.
Questions
What elder law services do you specialize in?
We focus on Medi-Cal planning, special needs trusts, probate, life-care planning, and estate administration tailored to San Diego's elder community needs.
How can you help with nursing home costs?
Our Medi-Cal planning strategies help qualify for coverage while preserving assets through legal techniques that minimize share-of-cost payments.
Do you handle special needs planning for families?
Yes, we create customized special needs trusts that maintain public benefit eligibility while providing supplemental financial support for disabled beneficiaries.
What makes your firm different from other elder law practices?
Our team includes a Certified Elder Law Attorney with 41 years of experience and State Bar certification in estate planning, offering integrated solutions for complex elder law issues.
How do you handle probate cases?
We use summary proceedings when possible and efficiently manage formal probate processes to ensure prompt asset distribution while protecting client interests.
