Cranston Estate Planning Attorney
Estate Planning, Medicaid & Probate Lawyer in Cranston, Rhode Island
Guiding Cranston families with plain-English Estate Plans—and a steady hand when the court is involved
If you live in Cranston, you don’t need a law school seminar; you need a plan that actually works for your family. My job is to take the legal complexity off your shoulders—whether that’s designing a trust that keeps the peace, preparing for long-term care without losing the house, or navigating a loved one’s probate at Cranston Probate Court. We’ll map the terrain, flag the hazards, and then build a plan that holds up when it matters most. I practice the way I’d want a lawyer to practice for my own family: clear explanations, clean documents, and the right level of hand-holding through each step. Most clients tell me they feel lighter after our first meeting. That feeling is what we’re aiming for. |
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Who we help in Cranston
Edgewood & Pawtuxet Village families want to avoid family friction—so we talk through revocable living trusts that keep things private and organized, and we name the right people to carry out the plan.
Garden City and Oaklawn retirees focus on Medicaid pre-planning—protecting a spouse at home, keeping options open for care, and clarifying what happens to the house.
Knightsville and Auburn caregivers ask about guardianship or conservatorship when a loved one can’t safely handle finances - what’s required, how long it takes, and whether there’s a less-invasive alternative.
Across Cranston, adult children are trying to “do it right” after a death - opening probate in City Hall, gathering assets, paying claims, and closing the estate without surprises.
Different neighborhoods, same goals: clarity, control, and a process that doesn’t take over your life.
Garden City and Oaklawn retirees focus on Medicaid pre-planning—protecting a spouse at home, keeping options open for care, and clarifying what happens to the house.
Knightsville and Auburn caregivers ask about guardianship or conservatorship when a loved one can’t safely handle finances - what’s required, how long it takes, and whether there’s a less-invasive alternative.
Across Cranston, adult children are trying to “do it right” after a death - opening probate in City Hall, gathering assets, paying claims, and closing the estate without surprises.
Different neighborhoods, same goals: clarity, control, and a process that doesn’t take over your life.
Our core services (built for Cranston)
We’ll compare a will-only plan to a revocable trust using your facts—not generalities. If probate avoidance, privacy, and smooth successor-management are priorities, a trust usually wins. If your world is simple and timing isn’t critical, a carefully drafted will, powers of attorney, and health care documents can still be the right fit. Either way, we write in plain English and we explain exactly how to fund the plan so it actually works.
The Morales family named Grandma as trustee, assuming she’d follow their wishes. But Grandma’s own health challenges led to delayed distributions and mounting bills for the family’s son with special needs. We stepped in to recommend a professional co‑trustee who could handle investments and paperwork, while Grandma remained a “consulting trustee,” preserving her role without burdening her.
Medicaid Asset Protection (Medicaid Trust Pre-Planning & Crisis)
Medicaid rules are technical, but the human questions are simple: Will my spouse be okay? Can we keep the house? How much control do we lose? We design Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs) to wall off future risk while preserving practical control over daily life. For crisis cases—when a nursing home stay has already started—we triage, model the numbers, and execute a lawful strategy to preserve as much as possible while keeping care on track.
Special Needs Planning
If someone you love receives (or may receive) needs-based benefits, the right Special Needs Trust preserves eligibility and adds a thoughtful “rulebook” for future trustees. We also coordinate beneficiary designations and life insurance so one mistake doesn’t unwind the whole plan.
Medicaid rules are technical, but the human questions are simple: Will my spouse be okay? Can we keep the house? How much control do we lose? We design Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs) to wall off future risk while preserving practical control over daily life. For crisis cases—when a nursing home stay has already started—we triage, model the numbers, and execute a lawful strategy to preserve as much as possible while keeping care on track.
Special Needs Planning
If someone you love receives (or may receive) needs-based benefits, the right Special Needs Trust preserves eligibility and adds a thoughtful “rulebook” for future trustees. We also coordinate beneficiary designations and life insurance so one mistake doesn’t unwind the whole plan.
Probate & Estate Administration in Cranston
When a loved one passes, you need a guide who knows the courthouse, the paperwork, and the unwritten rules. We prepare and file the petition, publish notice, manage claims and tax issues, obtain court approvals where required, and close the estate cleanly—so you can focus on family.
Local note: Cranston Probate Court sits in Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910. The City lists regular hours as Monday–Friday, 8:30–4:30. cranstonri.gov
The Court’s administrative page also references local rules, fee schedules, and identifies Judge Cynthia Fogarty and the Administrative Probate Clerk. (We’ll give you the exact forms and filing order; you won’t be guessing.) cranstonri.gov
For hearing cadence and logistics, the Rhode Island Probate Judges Association lists court days on the second and fourth Thursday at 9:00 a.m. (Always confirm at intake—we’ll check the current calendar before we file.) riprobatejudges.com
Local note: Cranston Probate Court sits in Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910. The City lists regular hours as Monday–Friday, 8:30–4:30. cranstonri.gov
The Court’s administrative page also references local rules, fee schedules, and identifies Judge Cynthia Fogarty and the Administrative Probate Clerk. (We’ll give you the exact forms and filing order; you won’t be guessing.) cranstonri.gov
For hearing cadence and logistics, the Rhode Island Probate Judges Association lists court days on the second and fourth Thursday at 9:00 a.m. (Always confirm at intake—we’ll check the current calendar before we file.) riprobatejudges.com
What to expect working with us
Cranston Department of Senior Services / Cranston Senior Enrichment Center
The city’s senior hub offers benefits counseling, programs, and caregiver resources. (We often coordinate with their team when families are weighing care options and benefit eligibility.) 1070 Cranston Street, Cranston, RI 02920. Cranston Senior Center Official Website.
Nearby hospitals
Many Cranston clients receive care at Kent Hospital in Warwick (455 Toll Gate Road, Warwick, RI 02886) and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence (593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903). We factor discharge planning and rehab transitions into Medicaid timing and powers-of-attorney logistics. Brown Health.
Assisted living & memory care
We don’t endorse facilities, but we help families compare options and structure finances. Examples in/near Cranston include Scandinavian Home Assisted Living (50 Warwick Ave., Cranston) and other area communities; we’ll model costs, eligibility, and timelines before you sign anything. Senior Guidance.
The city’s senior hub offers benefits counseling, programs, and caregiver resources. (We often coordinate with their team when families are weighing care options and benefit eligibility.) 1070 Cranston Street, Cranston, RI 02920. Cranston Senior Center Official Website.
Nearby hospitals
Many Cranston clients receive care at Kent Hospital in Warwick (455 Toll Gate Road, Warwick, RI 02886) and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence (593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903). We factor discharge planning and rehab transitions into Medicaid timing and powers-of-attorney logistics. Brown Health.
Assisted living & memory care
We don’t endorse facilities, but we help families compare options and structure finances. Examples in/near Cranston include Scandinavian Home Assisted Living (50 Warwick Ave., Cranston) and other area communities; we’ll model costs, eligibility, and timelines before you sign anything. Senior Guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How we think about common Cranston elder law questions
“Do we really need a trust, or is a will enough?”
A will can work, but probate means public filings, court timelines, and added steps for your family. A Rhode Island revocable trust keeps the transition private, organizes who does what, and can streamline out-of-state or hard-to-value assets. We’ll compare the two honestly for your fact pattern. (If you choose a will, we’ll still make it airtight—with durable powers, health care directives, and beneficiary clean-up.)
“We’re worried about nursing home costs. What should we be doing now?”
If you’re healthy enough to plan, a MAPT (Medicaid Asset Protection Trust) can be the difference between scrambling later and having calm, lawful options. We explain the tradeoffs (you’re moving from ownership to control), and we design the trust so day-to-day life doesn’t feel disrupted. If a stay has already begun, we triage: there are still tools to protect a spouse at home and preserve assets even in crisis.
“Our child has a disability. How do we protect benefits and still enhance quality of life?”
A third-party Special Needs Trust funded by you (during life or at death) can supplement benefits without disqualifying your child. We pair that with a practical trustee guide—what’s allowed, what’s not, and how to document distributions so benefits remain intact.
“I’m the executor. What happens at Cranston Probate Court?”
We prepare the petition, file at City Hall (869 Park Ave.), publish notice, obtain authority, marshal assets, handle creditor claims, and keep you on track for accounting and closing. We’ll also coordinate real-estate sales and title work so closing doesn’t stall because a detail was missed. If your loved one owned property outside Rhode Island, we plan for ancillary probate in that state with counsel we trust. (cranstonri.gov)
How long does a typical Cranston probate take?
Simple estates often close in 6–12 months; contested issues, real-estate sales, or tax questions can extend the timeline. Hearings are scheduled on the court’s regular calendar (historically the second and fourth Thursday mornings). We’ll confirm current dates before filing. (riprobatejudges.com)
Do we have to appear in person at Cranston City Hall for Probate Court?
Usually, not. We handle the filings and only bring you in when testimony is required or the judge has requested your presence. In most of our Rhode Island Probate cases, our clients never see the inside of a courtroom and they prefer it that way! Of course, you are ALWAYS welcome to attend any date your matter is on for hearing.
Is a life estate deed a good idea for Medicaid?
A life estate deed is almost never the best tool for Rhode Island families compared to a carefully designed Medicaid Asset Protection Trust. We’ll walk through lien exposure, capital-gains issues, control, and flexibility before you make any deed changes. We charge for comprehensive estate planning and guidance, not document preparation so our charge is the same no matter what approach you decide is best.
My parent is at Kent Hospital, should we wait to plan?
No. Hospital and rehab transitions are exactly when powers of attorney and health care documents matter. We’ll align timing with discharge plans and, if needed, move quickly on crisis Medicaid steps.
Fees and transparency
Most estate plans are flat-fee so you know the investment up front. Probate matters start with a clear scope (opening, notices, inventory, accountings, and close) and we’ll flag any likely “wild cards” early—property sales, hard-to-value assets, or disputes. Medicaid planning is scoped to include financial analysis including income and asset review, trust design, funding strategy, and benefit coordination so the legal work and the financial modeling match.
What do I do Next?
If your next step feels foggy—that’s the work. I’ll help you see the path, pick the right tools, and follow through so your family isn’t left guessing.
Schedule a consult and let’s map it out.
GUIDING FAMILIES. PROTECTING LEGACIES. BUILDING PEACE OF MIND.
Schedule a consult and let’s map it out.
GUIDING FAMILIES. PROTECTING LEGACIES. BUILDING PEACE OF MIND.
If you live in Cranston and want to plan ahead, or you are already facing a probate, Medicaid, or guardianship issue, we are ready to help. We will listen first, explain your options, and map the next steps so you know what will happen and when.
By Matthew Fabisch, Esq. - Former Rhode Island Probate Judge • Founder, Fabisch Law • Trusts & Estates Attorney • Father of Four
Fabisch Law
401-324-9344
Rhode Island Main Office
2 Dexter St.
Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
East Bay, Rhode Island Office
555 Metacom Avenue
Bristol, Rhode Island