Kristen Matthews Law

Home
United States
Exton, PA
Kristen Matthews Law

Kristen Matthews Law is an Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm located in Downingtown, PA. We help families navigate the complex issues life brings with age.

Kristen R. Matthews's law career has been exclusively devoted to helping clients with estate planning and elder law issues. She works closely with individuals and their families on all aspects of estate and trust planning and administration, by implementing necessary legal documents, such as a Will, Living Will, and General Durable and Healthcare Powers of Attorney. Kristen counsels families throu

gh the emotional and often daunting process of qualifying for government benefits such as Medicaid, Veterans Benefits, and Social Security. Through strategic planning, Kristen helps individuals and families facing the high costs of long-term care to safeguard their lifetime savings. Kristen also assists families with disabled loved ones through establishing and administering special needs trusts, as well as obtaining permission from the Pennsylvania Orphans Court to appoint a guardian. Kristen assists veterans and their surviving spouse with qualifying for the Aid & Attendance benefit, a monthly cash payment that can be used to offset escalating medical expenses. Kristen has achieved the designation of Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) from the National Elder Law Foundation. The CELA designation is recognized and authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and is only awarded to attorneys who have demonstrated extensive experience in practicing in the areas of estate planning and elder law, passed a day-long exam, and received recommendations from other attorneys who hold the CELA designation. Since 2015, Kristen has been recognized as a “Top Lawyer” in Elder Law by Main Line Today magazine and the Daily Local News. In 2016 and 2019, Main Line Today named Kristen #1 Top Lawyer in the Elder Law category. Since 2017 Kristen has earned the title of Pennsylvania Rising Star, an award given to less than 3% of Pennsylvania attorneys. Prior to founding Kristen Matthews Law, Kristen was one of the first female associate attorneys promoted to partner at the oldest and largest law firm based in Chester County. The first attorney in a family of teachers, Kristen connects with her clients on a meaningful level, equipping them with the requisite knowledge to gain confidence and control over their affairs. A lifelong resident of Downingtown, Kristen and her husband Lee are the proud parents of 3 active boys.

06/18/2026

Where you live as you get older is one of the most personal decisions a family will make together. And it is rarely a simple one.

A new television series called Senior Spaces follows real older adults navigating exactly that crossroads: whether to stay home, downsize, move to a senior community, or transition to a care facility. It is an honest look at a decision that is equal parts practical and emotional, and it is worth watching.

What the show gets right is something I see in my work all the time: the families who navigate these transitions best are the ones who started the conversation before a crisis made it urgent.

Read more about the four paths families consider and the resources available for each one: https://kmatthewslaw.com/senior-living/tv-show-explores-senior-housing-and-long-term-care-options/

06/15/2026

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Elder abuse takes many forms, including physical, emotional, and financial, and it is far more common than most people realize. It also frequently goes unreported, often because the person experiencing it depends on the person causing harm.

Awareness is the first step. Knowing what to look for, knowing that resources exist, and knowing that older adults have legal rights and protections are things every family should understand.

If you have concerns about an older loved one's safety or wellbeing, trust that instinct and seek guidance. You do not have to navigate it alone.

Kristen R. Matthews is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and one of only three CELAs with a primary office in Chester County. Her entire career has been devoted exclusively to elder law and estate planning.

484-874-2987 | kmatthewslaw.com

06/09/2026

There is a federal budget law that every family with an aging loved one should know about.
The Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025 made sweeping changes to both Medicare and Medicaid. For the roughly 12 million Americans who rely on both programs, the risks are real and the timeline is already underway.

Here is what families need to understand:

🔹Medicaid funding is being cut by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade
🔹Many of the services most at risk are ones Medicare does not cover, including home care, dental, vision, and hearing
🔹New paperwork requirements could push eligible people off coverage even if nothing about their situation has changed
🔹The home equity exclusion for long-term care Medicaid is being capped starting January 2028
🔹Retroactive coverage is being shortened starting in 2027, which matters enormously during long-term care applications

These are not abstract policy changes. They are changes that will affect real families making real decisions about care.

If you have a loved one who relies on Medicaid, or if long-term care is something your family may be facing, now is the time to understand your options. Waiting makes this harder, not easier.

Kristen R. Matthews is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and one of only three CELAs with a primary office in Chester County. Her entire career has been devoted exclusively to elder law and estate planning.

484-789-9137 | kmatthewslaw.com

06/04/2026

If you are caring for an aging parent, chances are there are a few legal and financial gaps in the plan that no one has addressed yet.

Here are some of the most important things to have in place before a crisis arrives:

🔹A durable power of attorney
🔹A healthcare proxy
🔹An advance directive that reflects current wishes
🔹A clear understanding of what Medicare actually covers
🔹A Medicaid plan if long-term care may be needed

These are not complicated things to put in place. But they are very hard to put in place once a crisis has already arrived. If you are not sure where to start, that is exactly what we are here for.

Kristen R. Matthews is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and one of only three CELAs with a primary office in Chester County. Her entire career has been devoted exclusively to elder law and estate planning.

484-789-9137 | kmatthewslaw.com

06/02/2026

I'm honored to share that I've been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for 2026, my third consecutive year on the list.

Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys through a peer nomination and independent evaluation process, and being included alongside so many talented colleagues in elder law and estate planning means a great deal to me.

If you or someone you love is navigating long-term care planning, Medicaid, or estate questions, I'd love to help. Reach out anytime.

📞 484-789-9137
🌐 kmatthewslaw.com

06/01/2026

A new report from the Roosevelt Institute puts into words something I see in my practice every day.

Most families assume that working hard, saving carefully, and paying off the house means they will have something to fall back on if they ever need care. For most American families, the cost of long-term care is quietly dismantling that assumption.

Nursing home care now costs up to $129,000 a year nationally. Medicare covers almost none of it. Medicaid steps in only after a family has spent down to near-poverty levels. The families who did everything right are among the most exposed.

This is why Medicaid planning matters, and why it matters early. Read more here: https://kmatthewslaw.com/medicaid/long-term-care-costs-are-hollowing-out-generational-wealth/

05/29/2026

If spending time with your grandchildren leaves you feeling both worn out and somehow more alive, science may finally have an explanation for that second part.

A new study published in the journal Psychology and Aging found that grandparents who care for their grandchildren score higher on tests of memory and verbal skills than those who do not. For grandmothers especially, that involvement may actually slow cognitive decline over time.

As we head into Mother's Day weekend, I find that research genuinely moving. The grandmothers I work with are often the quiet center of their families, managing schedules, holding memories, keeping everyone connected. It turns out those grandchildren may be doing as much for them as they are doing for the grandchildren.

The study found that what mattered most was not how often grandparents helped, but what they did together. Helping with homework, playing games, and doing activities that actively engage the mind showed the strongest benefits.

Read more about what the research found and what it means for older adults and their families:
https://kmatthewslaw.com/caring-for-grandkids-a-way-to-slow-cognitive-decline/

05/22/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and one of the mental health challenges that comes up most often in my work is one that does not always get named directly: the anxiety and loss of dignity that can come with aging without a plan.

Isolation is one of the most significant mental health risks for older adults. It can accelerate cognitive decline, increase depression, and leave people feeling invisible at exactly the stage of life when they most deserve to feel secure and valued. We saw it in the research on grandparents and cognitive health: engagement, connection, and a sense of purpose are not extras. They are essential.

Legal planning is part of how we protect that. A power of attorney ensures that a trusted person, not a court, makes decisions if someone loses capacity. An advance directive means medical decisions reflect real values, not default protocols. Medicaid planning means that the cost of care does not force a move somewhere unfamiliar and frightening before it is truly necessary.

Planning for the future is an act of self-respect. It is also an act of love for the people who will be there when it matters most.

484-874-2987 | kmatthewslaw.com

05/21/2026

The families who come to me after a crisis almost always say the same thing: we wish we had done this sooner.

Not because it is too late. It is rarely too late. But because earlier planning means more options, more protection, and far less stress for everyone involved.

When a loved one enters a nursing home without a Medicaid plan in place, the family scrambles to figure out how to pay for care that can cost $10,000 to $15,000 a month or more. When there is no power of attorney and someone becomes incapacitated, the family may need to go to court to establish guardianship, a process that takes time, money, and emotional energy no one has to spare in that moment.

These situations are not inevitable. They are what planning is designed to prevent.
As a Certified Elder Law Attorney, I have spent my entire career helping Chester County families put the right structures in place before they need them. The conversation is easier than most people expect. The peace of mind it brings is real.

484-874-2987 | kmatthewslaw.com

05/19/2026

May is Older Americans Month, and it is also National Elder Law Month. The two go together in a way that feels right to me.

Older Americans Month has been observed every May since 1963. This year’s theme is Champion Your Health, a call to take an active role in managing well-being, accessing care, and making informed decisions. National Elder Law Month, supported by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, runs alongside it as a reminder that legal planning is one of the most important things an older adult and their family can do.

Championing your health is not only about doctor’s appointments and exercise. It is about making sure the right people are authorized to make decisions if you cannot. It is about knowing how long-term care will be funded. It is about having a plan that reflects your values, not a crisis that makes those decisions for you.

That is the work I do every day as a Certified Elder Law Attorney. If May is the month that finally prompts that conversation in your family, I am glad to be a resource.

484-874-2987 | kmatthewslaw.com

Address

14 E Welsh Pool Road
Exton, PA
19341

Website

http://kmatthewslaw.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kristen Matthews Law posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Kristen Matthews Law:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Law Practice in Exton?