Legal Aid Resources: Finding Free and Low-Cost Services for Seniors

Deeds.com offers updated, compliant real estate documents and forms. Now and then, a reader has situation-specific legal questions which require legal advice. Law firms can get expensive, but there are services available at low or no cost for older adults who need them.

In Las Vegas, Senior Legal Services Recently Made the News

News 8 in Las Vegas recently covered a service that offers seniors legal help. A free, monthly Ask-a-Lawyer session comes courtesy of the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program. Seniors who need such services and live in or around Las Vegas may call their local senior center for appointments.

Within these half-day sessions, adults aged 60 and up can schedule free 30-minute consultations. The lawyers answer their questions, and discuss their legal problems. If the senior needs further help, the lawyer will help schedule a follow-up office appointment.

Diane Fearon, who directs the program, said the sessions provide guidance for “that senior who doesn’t know where to go or what to do.”

Free legal support is available for estate planning, housing disputes, scams and fraud, and public benefit access. The help offered is not just about the document format; it’s also about legal counsel. 

Services Are Available for a Wide Range of Needs

Elder law specialists are trained to address older adults’ particular situations. They’re advocates as well as specialists. They offer guidance for many needs, such as:  

• Support for elders who might have made decisions about a power of attorney or their homes and finances under false pretenses or undue influence.

• Help with applications for programs (Medicaid, etc.), and guidance in protecting the value of a home from being used up by medical expenses.

• Help with the creation of a power of attorney for real estate, in which the senior’s designated agent is empowered to make decisions about the home, and carry those decisions out on behalf of the senior.  

• Guidance for seniors who need advice about covering housing costs; dealing with fines or liens; and so forth.

• Advice on investments; heirs and estate planning; property transfers; disputes with neighbors, family, or service providers.

• Tax support.

• Fraud; scams; contract disputes; and consumer concerns.

As you see, the term legal services covers a lot. Yet the above are just a few examples. These specialists can also refer seniors to further sources of information and guidance.

How to Find Access: Starting Points 

Some of the resources will be national in scope. Some will be state-based. And some will be local.

To get oriented, look online with the search terms “legal assistance” with “aging” and your state. Do the same with your city or county. Legal support can also be found with Area Agencies on Aging. To find them, search for “area agencies on aging” and your state, or look up your county branch.

Legal aid organizations often have income caps. If your income is below a certain ceiling, they offer low- or no-cost assistance.

As for federal assistance, check with the Administration for Community Living. It connects people and services, as directed by Title III-B, Section 321, of the Older Americans Act. Targeted to “older individuals with economic or social needs,” this law directs the funding of about 1,000 U.S. providers of legal services.

Legal Services: When Free or Low-Cost Legal Aid Is Essential

Legal problems can accumulate and cause stress, but legal services can help you regain your footing. Qualifying for services will usually depend on your age, geographic location, and income level.

Low- or no-cost legal aid is available to U.S. citizens and non-citizens. Major cities have offices that specialize in low-cost or free assistance for noncitizens. To find them, search for “immigration legal services” and the city.

A hat tip to the attorneys, student attorneys, and other legal professionals who devote part or all of their working hours to public service.