At Kulas & Crawford, Medicaid & Estate Planning Attorneys, we are extremely proud to serve the residents of St. Lucie County, Florida with elder law services and estate planning strategies that enrich their lives. We’re as committed as ever to the idea that everyone deserves to have asset protection, access to long-term care funding, a plan for incapacity, and other vital estate plan components. We can help you to both secure the assets you now have and build on them to increase your wealth to meet future needs. At the same time, we help you provide your family with the protections they need to avoid hardship if anything happens to you. If you’re a resident in the St. Lucie County area, you can take comfort in the knowledge that Kulas & Crawford, Medicaid & Estate Planning Attorneys are always here to meet your elder law and estate plan needs.
The Representation You Need in St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County is located in the eastern part of the state of Florida and is designated as a part of the broader Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county’s population in the 2015 census estimate was recorded at 298,563 – and increase above the 2010 Census estimate of 277,789. Fort Pierce serves as the county seat.
St. Lucie County is made up of territory that has been inhabited to one extent or another for many centuries. At one time, the Ais tribe – a hunter-gatherer culture of Native Americans – inhabited the area, which naturally put them in conflict with the Spanish who explored the area in search of gold and other treasures. The county was created in 1905 and carved out of the southern portion of Brevard County. Today, the area is a largely urban center with a diverse population and economy.
Residents in St. Lucie County enjoy a median household income of $42,504, up from the $36,363 median reported in 1999. That’s somewhat lower than the statewide median of $46,036. Major industries include health care, which makes up 24% of economic activity, retail (15%), hospitality services (11%), and education (11%). The economy offers diverse opportunities for wealth creation, and residents often need assistance protecting and growing that wealth. Kulas & Crawford, Medicaid & Estate Planning Attorneys can provide that assistance.
Seniors in St. Lucie County
The median age of residents in St. Lucie County is 42 years. That’s two years higher than the Florida median age of 40 years old. 22.60% of residents in the county are under the age of 18, while 22.70% are at least 65 years of age. More than 12% of households in the area have a senior living independently. 7.7% of seniors in the area have poverty-level incomes.
Seniors in the county typically live independently for as long as they can manage to do so. Eventually, many are prevented from maintaining that independence by health care needs that require more intensive nursing care. Sometimes, seniors meet that challenge with in-home care. Often, they turn to long-term care facilities where they can get the help they need. Caring.com maintains a list of such facilities on its nursing home page for St. Lucie County.
Decisions about long-term care are extremely important. Seniors and their families not only have to select the right facility to provide the needed care, but also need to overcome financing concerns that are made more difficult by ever-increasing nursing home costs. The elder law attorneys at Kulas & Crawford, Medicaid & Estate Planning Attorneys can help seniors with those decisions and provide the guidance they need to qualify for Medicaid and other nursing home financing opportunities.
St. Lucie County Demographics for Housing and Labor
A move to the St. Lucie County area can involve many things. For would-be homeowners and entrepreneurs, however, data on housing and labor demographics can often be among the most useful information they can have. These 2013 statistics can be helpful in that regard.
The median value for condominiums and houses In St. Lucie County was estimated at $125,700 in 2013, which represents a sizable increase from 2000’s recorded $81,500. It is, however, significantly below the Florida median value of $153,300. For persons who rent in the county, the median monthly cost is $813, which is very close to the statewide median that is estimated to be $838.
Business owners who want to operate in the St. Lucie County region will be just as interested in data concerning the area’s labor force. Among people age 25 or older, 77.7% have at least a high school education. 15% have a bachelor’s or other advanced degree. The unemployment rate in the county is about 6%, slightly higher than the statewide rate.
St. Lucie County Courts
Probate and guardianship cases are dealt with at the courthouse in Fort Pierce. That Circuit Court is located at 201 South Indian River Dr., 3rd Floor, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. If you have business with the court, you can talk to court officials during normal business hours Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM. You can also reach them by phone at (772) 462-6920.
Like similar courts elsewhere in the United States, the probate court in St. Lucie County provides critical estate settlement and guardian services for residents in the area. If you have questions about incapacitated adults, executor duties, or other probate and guardianship matters, court personnel are available to answer them. For more in-depth assistance, however, Kulas & Crawford, Medicaid & Estate Planning Attorneys, can provide the assistance you need.
St. Lucie County Estate Planning You Need
At Kulas & Crawford, Medicaid & Estate Planning Attorneys, our team can assist you with all your most pressing elder law and estate planning needs. We’ll help you develop the asset protection and estate planning solutions needed to safeguard your personal and business interests, prepare for any future long-term care, and secure your legacy. For more information about the St. Lucie County area or to find out more about how we can help with your planning needs, visit us online or call (989) 872-5601 today.
