How can I find an attorney who specializes in elder law?

If you’re age 60 and older, you may qualify for free legal assistance for seniors based on your income and assets. You can find senior legal services at your local legal services program . You can also find out about your local legal assistance programs by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging at eldercare.acl.gov or by visiting the American Bar Association . If you do not qualify for a legal aid attorney, you can find an attorney through the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) or your local bar association.

The legal assistance available will vary based on your local program’s guidelines, but generally a qualified attorney will be able to help you with a variety of issues, including:

• income security
• Social Security benefits
• health care, including Medicare, long-term care, and nutrition
• housing, including eviction or issues with a landlord
• utilities
• protective services
• defense of guardianship
• abuse and neglect
• age discrimination

Learn more about the CFPB’s resources for older adults.