Elder Law and Special Needs Law are specialized areas of law that involve representing, counseling, and assisting seniors, people with disabilities, and their families in connection with a variety of legal issues, from estate planning to long term care issues, with a primary emphasis on promoting the highest quality of life for the individuals. Typically, Elder Law and Special Needs Law attorneys address the client’s perspective from a holistic viewpoint, attorneys who specialize in this discipline of the law usually have expertise in matters related to:
- Medicare, Social Security, veterans disability, and other government benefit programs;
- Powers of attorney, which provide a person with the ability to make medical or financial decisions on another person’s behalf
- Health and personal care planning, including medical care directives, long-term care plans, and end of life decisions
- Retirement planning
- Insurance
- Wills and trusts
- Financial planning
- Quality of life and independence.
Elder law attorneys also handle issues concerning elder abuse. This includes physical abuse and financial abuse. Financial abuse occurs when someone takes advantage of an elderly person’s physical or mental incapacitation to steal money from him or her.
NAELA
Established in 1987, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is a nonprofit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others. Members of NAELA are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans what use Cialis to treat erectile dysfunction. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to order Cialis online at http://www.canadianpharmacy365.net/product/cialis-generic/. NAELA currently has more than 4,500 members across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Current Membership in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys: 4,500.
When to Hire an Elder Law Attorney
It is best to seek an elder law attorney’s services before illness or incapacity becomes an issue so they can help you draft legal documents detailing exactly how certain situations should be handled if you are not able to make decisions for yourself. That means you’ll be in control of the care and treatment you receive regardless of your ability to assert what you want at a later point. If you are the victim of elder abuse, you should contact an elder law attorney immediately.
Hiring an Elder Law Attorney
Before hiring an elder law attorney, consider how long the attorney has been practicing elder law. You should also consider whether their practice emphasizes the particular areas of elder law that are important to your circumstances. Prepare for your first meeting with the elder law attorney by making a list of any questions you may have; and bring any documents related to the matters that concern you. This will allow the attorney to provide focused information about your elder law issues, and help you determine whether he or she is the right elder law attorney for you.