At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help families across West Virginia, including Wheeling, Weirton, and Parkersburg, keep their homes and savings out of probate court and protected from long-term care costs. We have been doing this work since May 2003.
Elder law covers the legal and financial side of getting older, like paying for nursing or memory care, qualifying for Medicaid without spending down everything, naming who speaks for you if you cannot, and passing a house or farmland to your kids cleanly.
Trust funding means retitling the deed, the vehicles, and the accounts into the trust, and our team does that work instead of handing you a binder and wishing you luck.
We price the work as a one-time flat fee, keep your current financial advisor in the loop, and meet by phone, video, or in person.
Why West Virginia Families Choose Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
One-time flat fee, no recurring charges
You pay a single, agreed price up front. We do not sell insurance products or bill monthly maintenance fees, so there is nothing to renew and no surprise invoice later.
We actually move your assets into the trust
A trust only works if your home, land, and accounts are retitled into it, a step called trust funding. Our team handles that legwork with you instead of handing you signed documents and a to-do list.
20+ years and a 35+ person team
We opened in May 2003 and now have 39 team members across three offices, so your plan does not stall when one person is out.
Planning built for an aging region
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 20.5% of West Virginia’s population was age 65 or older as of the 2020 Census, among the highest shares nationwide. Long-term care costs and probate hit families here hard, and we plan for both.
Your financial advisor stays in the picture
We work alongside the advisor you already trust rather than replacing them, and we explain every step in plain language so you can manage your plan with confidence.
What Clients Say About Jarvis Law Office
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” Courtney P.
A plan put in place today still needs a look after any major life event: a dementia diagnosis, a move into assisted living, or the death of a spouse.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” Luke B.
Medicaid redetermination notices and changing income and asset limits deserve a careful walkthrough with someone who knows the rules.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” MaryEllen G.
Twenty-three years of trust and probate work across the Ohio Valley, including families on the West Virginia side of the river.
“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.” Courtney P.
Receiving an inheritance, buying property, or opening a new account all mean something new may need to be retitled into your trust, and that funding work is part of the service.
“Everyone in the office is a pleasure to work with, and I never hesitate to call or send an email.” Laura P.
A quick call after a health change or a notice in the mail costs nothing and often prevents a much bigger problem later.
Does Medicaid Cover Nursing Home Costs in West Virginia, or Do You Have to Spend Down Your Assets First?
Yes, West Virginia Medicaid can cover nursing home care for individuals who meet medical and financial eligibility requirements. However, qualifying for coverage does not necessarily mean spending all your savings or selling your home.
Assets that may receive protection include:
- Primary Residence: A home may be excluded from countable assets when specific Medicaid requirements are met.
- Spousal Assets: When one spouse enters a nursing home, the spouse remaining at home may retain a protected portion of the couple’s assets.
- Personal Property: Certain household belongings, personal possessions, and vehicles may be exempt.
- Prepaid Funeral Arrangements: Qualifying burial funds and prepaid funeral arrangements may be excluded from countable assets.
An elder law attorney can help West Virginia families evaluate Medicaid eligibility, identify legally available asset protections, and develop a long-term care plan without unnecessarily exhausting their savings.
Our Elder Law Services in West Virginia
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. handles the full range of elder law planning for Ohio Valley families in West Virginia, from Wheeling to Parkersburg to Weirton.
- Medicaid eligibility planning
- Long-term care cost planning
- Estate planning
- Asset protection trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Advanced directive preparation
- Asset protection
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Veterans aid and attendance
- Memory care planning
- Spousal impoverishment protection
WE WILL SPEAK FOR YOUR RIGHTS
Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your options. You may find that you are entitled to payment if your claim was denied or underpaid. Let Jarvis Law Office be your advocate
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About Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. opened in May 2003 and has spent 20+ years focused on probate avoidance and trust planning for Ohio Valley families, including those on the West Virginia side of the river.
Our team handles moving your house, land, and accounts into a trust, rather than handed back to you as a stack of unsigned paperwork. Planning is billed as a one-time flat fee, not a recurring insurance-style charge, and the goal is always to leave you understanding your own plan.
Clients consistently say so. Across the firm’s three Google profiles, the ratings sit at 4.8 stars across multiple locations.
What Is the Difference Between Elder Law and Estate Planning in West Virginia?
While elder law and estate planning overlap, they address different legal and financial needs. Estate planning primarily focuses on protecting and distributing assets, while elder law addresses the legal, financial, and healthcare challenges associated with aging and long-term care.
For example, an estate planning attorney may help a West Virginia resident establish a trust to distribute property to their children after death. An elder law attorney may help that same individual plan for nursing home expenses, understand Medicaid eligibility, and protect qualifying assets during their lifetime.
Many families benefit from combining both approaches. A comprehensive plan can address healthcare decisions, long-term care expenses, financial management, and the eventual transfer of assets to loved ones.
Our Elder Law Case Process for West Virginia Families
1. Free Initial Conversation
We start by listening: what you own, who you want to protect, and whether long-term care is already on the horizon. Phone, video, or in person at the office, whichever saves you the drive from Wheeling, Parkersburg, or Weirton.
2. Plan Design
We map out the strategy: Medicaid eligibility planning, the right trust structure, and powers of attorney so someone you trust can act if you cannot. You get a one-time flat fee quoted up front, not a running tab or a recurring product charge.
3. Document Drafting
Your attorney prepares the trust, will, powers of attorney, and health care directives tailored to your family and your property. We review every page with you before anything is signed.
4. Asset And Trust Funding
This is the step most plans fall apart on. Our team does the hands-on work of moving your home, land, bank accounts, and investments into the trust, and we coordinate with your current financial advisor rather than pushing them aside.
5. Client Education Session
We walk you through how your plan works and give you written instructions, so you are never guessing about what happens next or who to call.
6. Ongoing Plan Reviews
Families change, property changes, and care laws change. We stay available to review and update your plan as life shifts, with no surprise retainer attached.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elder Law in West Virginia
What Is The Medicaid Look-Back Period In West Virginia And What Happens If I Gave Money To My Kids Already?
West Virginia follows the federal five-year look-back, meaning the state reviews every gift or transfer made in the 60 months before a Medicaid application. Gifts inside that window can trigger a penalty period where Medicaid pays nothing.
Can I Protect My House And Farmland From Medicaid And Estate Recovery?
Yes, with the right structure put in place early enough. Property placed in a properly drafted irrevocable trust, held long enough, is generally outside what the state can reach through estate recovery after death.
How Much Does An Elder Law Attorney Cost, And Are There Ongoing Fees?
Jarvis Law Office works on a one-time flat fee quoted before any work begins. There are no monthly charges and no insurance products bundled into the plan.
I Live In Wheeling Or Weirton. Can An Ohio Office Really Handle My West Virginia Home And Accounts?
Yes. Our St. Clairsville office sits minutes from the river, and we regularly work with Ohio Valley families who own West Virginia real estate, bank accounts, and farmland.
Who Actually Moves My House And Accounts Into The Trust?
We do. Trust funding means retitling deeds, bank accounts, and other assets into the trust’s name, and an unfunded trust protects nothing.
Will Working With You Replace My Financial Advisor?
No. We work alongside your existing advisor and keep them in the loop on account titling and beneficiary designations.
Do I Have To Drive To An Office To Get Started?
No. First conversations happen by phone, video, or in person, whichever is easiest for you.
Helpful Elder Law Resources in West Virginia
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
The highest court in the state, handling appeals and oversight of all lower courts.
- West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
State agency that administers programs and funding to support older residents and caregivers.
- West Virginia Medicaid Agency
Administers the state Medicaid program, including long-term care coverage for qualifying individuals.
- West Virginia Probate Court
County-level court division that oversees wills, estates, and the appointment of guardians and conservators.
- West Virginia Adult Protective Services
State program that investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.
- West Virginia Health Care Authority
Regulatory body that oversees licensing and regulation of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
- Legal Aid of West Virginia
Nonprofit organization providing free civil legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable residents.
- Social Security Administration, Charleston Office
Federal field office processing retirement, disability, and supplemental income benefit claims.
- West Virginia Veterans Service Program
State office connecting military veterans and their families with benefits and support services.
- West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing
Office that maintains official state records, including powers of attorney and notary registrations.
- West Virginia SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
Free counseling program helping residents understand Medicare and supplemental insurance options.
Schedule a West Virginia Elder Law Consultation
The first conversation is free, and you can have it by phone, by video, or in person, whichever is easiest for you.
Come with your questions about avoiding probate, Medicaid’s five-year look-back, or what a trust would actually cost. You will get straight answers, a one-time flat fee quoted up front with no recurring insurance-style charges, and a team that handles the retitling of deeds and accounts so your trust is actually funded, not just signed.
Call us to set up your consultation. We will work alongside your current financial advisor and keep the whole process to as few trips as possible.
