What Is Elder Law?

In the context of setting up a meeting for your initial estate planning consultation or updating any previous estate planning documents, you might hear a variety of terms. One of these is elder law.

what is elder law

What Does Elder Law Consist Of?

Elder law is a facet of law that pertains specifically to the needs of the elderly. Elder law attorneys are strongly recommended in those cases involving seniors because these lawyers will have a greater understanding of the specific limitations and issues affecting this population.

Specific elder law discussions can be adjusted based on the needs of the person at hand. For one family, developing a plan to qualify for Medicaid might be a top concern whereas addressing the need for a power of attorney for someone recently diagnosed with Alzheimers’ could be the most important aspect for another.

Who Needs to Hire an Elder Law Attorney?

Some of the key concerns related to elder law include:

  • Nursing home concerns
  • Estate planning
  • Guardianships and conservatorships
  • Social Security
  • Medicaid
  • Housing issues
  • Mental health law
  • and more.

An elder law attorney should be a person who has extensive experience in this area of the law and can guide you through the creation of necessary documents and consideration of strategies that can be most helpful to you and your loved ones in your older years.

Not every estate planning attorney will specialize in elder law, so it’s well worth asking your intended attorney if they’re comfortable and regularly work in this space. Whether you’re getting elder law support for your own future or are helping your parents or other family members craft their elder law plan, our D.C./Maryland elder law planning firm can help.