Legal Services
The Administration on Aging funds legal services programs in every state that "are designed to empower older persons to remain independent, healthy and safe within their own homes and communities as long as possible."
Throughout their later years adults may need legal services for a number of different issues such as help with wills and estate planning, with issues related to competency, or with issues involving discrimination due to age or disability.
Legal services are available through traditional sources as well as firms that specialize in serving older adults. Attorney's specializing in the legal needs of older adults may be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation leading to the title Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). In addition there are organizations that provide legal services for free or a significantly reduced cost. Services most often covered by a CELA include:
- Estate Planning
- Cohabitation and Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
- Long Term Care Planning
- Comprehensive Estate and Medicaid Planning Evaluations
- Guardianship and Conservatorship Services
- Planning for People with Disabilities
- Planning for Parents of Children with Disabilities
- Tax Planning
- Real Estate Transactions
Senoir Legal Checklist
It is always usefull to create a document in which you record all important locations of information/documents such as: wills, powers of attorney, birth and marriage certificates, licenses, insurance policies, deeds, vehicle titles, checking and saving account information, investment information, names and addresses of important people, etc. It is a good idea to provide a copy of this document to loved ones in case of an emergency.
Find more information in our Resources section.
