Craig Hatch | Estate Planning
Law Offices of Halbruner, Hatch & Guise, LLP
Craig Hatch | Law Offices of Halbruner, Hatch & Guise, LLP
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Firm Summary
Craig has been in private practice since 1996, when he joined the firm as associate. In 2001, he became the firm’s third partner. In 2013, upon a partner’s retirement, Mark Halbruner, Clifton Guise and Craig Hatch formed Halbruner, Hatch, and Guise, LLP. Currently, they employ 5 attorneys and 7 support staff. The primary focus of the firm is estate and succession planning, but requires expertise in business law, contracts, and construction and administration.
Craig’s practice includes the following areas of law:
Construction – Craig develops and implements estate plans for individuals designed to preserve family wealth and insure the assets pass in the appropriate manner. This includes the use of Trusts, Wills, Lifetime gift planning, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Healthcare Directives.
Estate Administration – Craig meets with the family following the death of a loved one as soon as they are ready to begin the process of handling the affairs. During this meeting he gathers family and financial information and then outlines, in detail, the process they will need to undertake. This meeting will include an estimate of the tax consequences and timing of each significant event in the administration.
Long Term Care Planning – Perhaps the greatest risk of financial disaster in retirement is a loved one facing a skilled care in a nursing home. Craig meets with clients to determine their exposure and methods to shelter their income or assets. After reviewing the financial picture, he develops a plan to address the exposure.
Nursing Home Application – When a spouse or parent is admitted to a nursing home, the responsible parties are provided with a packet they are asked to complete. The volume of pages and the corresponding potential liability can be daunting. Craig will review the application and contract with his clients and highlight areas of concern. When necessary, he will work with the nursing facility to revise terms.
Medical Assistance Application and Appeals – When a person meets certain complex financial criteria, their care costs can be significantly reduced by government programs. However, most people mistakenly believe that they can only qualify when they have little or no assets. If a spouse or parent is facing a nursing home admission, it is critical to meet with Craig to take action promptly to apply for benefits or take steps to become eligible for benefits.
Craig prefers an informal relationship with his clients in that he tries to explain the law in every- day language. Often this may include a diagram of the particular process that a client will face. He has found that clients will refer to these diagrams more regularly then letters.
Bar Admissions:
Pennsylvania Supreme Court – 1995
U.S. Tax Court – 1996
Education & Honors:
Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania
Dual Major in History and Political Science, with honors – 1991
Ohio Northern University School of Law, Ada, Ohio – 1995
Editor, Pharmacy Law Review – 1995
Spring National Moot Court Team Coach and Member 1995
Successfully Argued Ohio Supreme Court Case, 1994, on Landlord Tenant Law
And Personal Injury
Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
as authorized by the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Personal Life:
Craig was born and raised in Erie County, Pennsylvania, but has ties to Mifflin County and Lancaster County. He currently resides in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania with his wife, Christine, who is a proud teacher in the Camp Hill School District. During his free time, Craig enjoys golf and cooking, with a specialty in cheesecakes.