Elder Law Attorneys specialize in assisting senior citizens and their families with specific senior legal issues, such as estate, financial and tax planning, the preparation of medical directives, insurance and nursing home contracts, and eligibility requirements for programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SSI disability.
What is an Elder Law Attorney?
An Elder Law Attorney specializes in issues affecting the elderly, or provides eIder law services as one type of law he/she practices. The National Elder Law Foundation created a certification program to identify those lawyers who have the enhanced knowledge, skills, experience and proficiency to be certified Elder Law Attorneys.
What services do Elder Law Attorneys provide?
Elder Law Attorneys counsel and represent older persons about the legal aspects of health and long term care planning, public benefits, surrogate decision making, legal capacity, conservation, estate planning and age discrimination.
The Center for Elder Rights Advocacy, supported by a grant from the Administration on Aging, offers a database of legal hotlines at www.legalhotlines.org. On their website, you can look up information on senior legal hotlines in your state.
Where can I find Legal Assistance?
Each Area Agency on Aging contracts with a legal service provider in their area to provide legal assistance to seniors age 60 or older. A Senior Citizen Law Project (SCLP) attorney will consult with you about your problem. If you cannot go to the attorney’s off ce or senior center, a visit to your home may be arranged. These legal service providers handle civil legal issues only.
Legal assistance may also be available through the Elder Law Hotline.
The Elder Law Hotline provides access to legal services for Kansas seniors age 60 or older. Hotline attorneys are available to answer questions for civil cases only. You will not be charged for the call or attorney time. You may call the Elder Law Hotline toll free number 888-353-5337 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. When you call, an intake person will take general information about you and transfer your call to an attorney. Attorneys who work with the Hotline are SCLP attorneys or private attorneys who handle elder law issues. The hotline also provides referrals to private attorneys through the Elder Law Referral Panel. These attorneys will charge you for their services.
How do I pay for an Elder Law Attorney?
Elder Law Attorneys' rates vary widely. Fees can be on an hourly basis, or there can be a flat fee for a specific service. Before meeting with an attorney, ask to see a fee schedule. Low-income elderly or disabled persons may qualify for free legal assistance.