Legal Assistance

The Legal Assistance Program is a statewide system of legal professionals who assist older adults with personal legal issues. These legal professional provide advice and counseling, legal representation, legal research, preparation of legal documents, negotiation, legal education, and community outreach to Alabama's older adults. The Legal Assistance Program works on a non-fee generating basis and strives to protect and secure the rights, benefits, and dignity of adults age 60 and older. The Legal Assistance Program can assist with:

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• Accessing health and long-term care

• Advanced directives

• Consumer issues

• Debt collection

• Elder abuse exploitation and fraud

• Guardianship issues

• Housing

• Income maintenance

• Medicaid and Medicare

• Powers of Attorney

• Social Security Wills

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Important legal documents to consider:

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• Medical Directive: Also known as a living will or advance healthcare directive, sets out what kind of care you want to receive if you become terminally ill or incapacitated

• Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: Allows your loved one to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to communicate with your doctor. A Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) release gives them access to your health records and physicians.

• Durable Power of Attorney for Finances: Allows someone to manage your financial affairs, pay bills, sell property, and other financial matters

• Revocable Living Trust: Allows a loved one to retain control over your estate while making transfers to assets to beneficiaries. They designate what property goes into the trust and to whom it will be granted. A revocable living trust has the important advantage of allowing your estate to possibly avoid probate upon your death.

• Will: A last will is a written directive of whom will receive your assets and property after your death and enables you to appoint the personal representative of your estate. A properly drafted Will helps avoid disagreements over your estate and saves the substantial cost of administering your estate without a Will. A will must be filed in Probate Court after your death to be effective.

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For legal assistance, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1.800.AGE.LINE (1.800.243.5463) or visit the website.

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You can also visit www.seniordirectory.com, choose the Elder Law Attorney Category and enter your city and state to generate the most current list. From there, you can also register your contact information for a return email or to have a representative call you with additional assistance.