Iris Christenson

A message from Iris and Johanna

A positive legacy...

your goal...

our mission.

Welcome to our website. We invite you to watch our welcome video and learn more about what we do, who we are, and how we can help you create a positive legacy for your family, your commmunity, and your environment.

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Our Services

At Christenson and Allex, LLC, we empower our clients with the education they need to create a positive legacy. We review your situation, listen to your ideas, learn about your values, and determine how best to help you achieve a secure future. Contact us to begin creating your positive legacy.

Estate Planning and Settlement of Estates. We use several legal tools, such as Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney to meet your specific estate planning needs, and we can assist you with the probate process, whether you are an estate beneficiary or personal representative.
Elder Law and Special Needs Planning. We can assist you with Medicaid planning, special needs trusts and other legal services so that you can form a plan of care for aging family members or children who have special needs.
Nonprofit and Small Business Law. We provide a variety of services related to forming a non-profit organization or small business, such as business formation documents, partnership agreements, or education regarding Board of Directors and officer fiduciary duties.
Real Estate. We can help you prepare for buying or selling a home or condominium, represent you at closing, or assist you with the many issues that come up during or after a real estate transaction.

Question of the Month

Each month Iris and Johanna answer questions heard frequently from clients. The questions are seen in the "Ask A Pro" sections of the Fitchburg Star and Verona Press newspaper publications.

November 2011

Question: If my mother's Power of Attorney for Health Care has been activated, should I assume that she can't sign a new Power of Attorney for Finances and Property?

Answer: No. Your mother may be declared incapacitated for the purpose of making health care decisions, but she may still have the capacity to complete a Power of Attorney for Finances and Property. An attorney who drafts the Power of Attorney for Finances and Property will be able to make an assessment as to whether your mother has the capacity to sign that type of document. The attorney will need to ask your mother a series of questions to determine if she understands the form, knows what she owns and is consistent in expressing her wishes about who should act as her agent. However, if the attorney believes she lacks the capacity to sign a Power of Attorney for Finances and Property, she will likely need a court-appointed guardian of the estate.

October 2011

Question: I am running out of money to pay for assisted living costs, and I am the widow of a veteran. Are there any VA benefits that could help pay my assisted living costs?

Answer: Yes. There is a benefit that many people are not aware of called "Aid and Attendance" -- a type of VA pension. This benefit may be available to you if you meet the income and asset criteria and if your spouse was a veteran who served at least 90 days of active-duty service with at least one day during a war-time period. The amount you could receive may cover the difference between your income and the cost of assisted living. You also need to be aware that the rules that apply to VA benefits are quite different from the rules that apply to Medicaid benefits, so you'll want to talk with an Elder Law attorney who assists clients with Medicaid Applications and has maintained their accreditation with the VA.