Legal Resources
Disability Law & the Americans with disabilities act
disAbility Law Center of Virginia
www.dlcv.org (dLCV)
800-552-3962
[email protected]
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) is the designated Protection and Advocacy organization of Virginia. Services include information and referral, legal representation, technical assistance, short-term assistance, systemic advocacy, monitoring and training. dLCV is independent from state and local government.
www.dlcv.org (dLCV)
800-552-3962
[email protected]
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) is the designated Protection and Advocacy organization of Virginia. Services include information and referral, legal representation, technical assistance, short-term assistance, systemic advocacy, monitoring and training. dLCV is independent from state and local government.
https://www.ada.gov/
Official US Government site for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Information and text for the Americans with Disabilities Act:
https://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm
Official US Government site for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Information and text for the Americans with Disabilities Act:
https://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm
Elder Law
Legal Aid Works®
www.legalaidworks.org
1200 Sunset Ln, Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-3131
Legal Aid Works® is a non-profit corporation that provides free, high-quality, civil legal assistance to low income individuals and families. They have three offices located in Fredericksburg, Tappahannock, and Culpeper to better serve area residents.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
https://www.naela.org/findlawyer?
Email: [email protected]
This site will help you find a lawyer who specializes in serving older adults. Enter your zip code to find an elder law attorney near you.
www.legalaidworks.org
1200 Sunset Ln, Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-3131
Legal Aid Works® is a non-profit corporation that provides free, high-quality, civil legal assistance to low income individuals and families. They have three offices located in Fredericksburg, Tappahannock, and Culpeper to better serve area residents.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
https://www.naela.org/findlawyer?
Email: [email protected]
This site will help you find a lawyer who specializes in serving older adults. Enter your zip code to find an elder law attorney near you.
What is Elder Law?
Elder Law encompasses many different fields of law. Some of these include:
Elder Law encompasses many different fields of law. Some of these include:
- Preservation/transfer of assets seeking to avoid spousal impoverishment when one spouse enters a nursing home
- Medicaid
- Medicare claims and appeals
- Social Security and disability claims and appeals
- Supplemental and long-term health insurance issues
- Tax planning
- Disability planning, including use of durable powers of attorney, living trusts, “living wills” for financial management and health care decisions, and other means of delegating management and decision-making to another in case of incompetency or incapacity
- Access to health care in a managed care environment
- Conservatorships and guardianships
- Estate planning, including planning for the management of one’s estate during life and its disposition on death through the use of trusts, wills and other planning documents
- Probate and administration of estates
- Administration and management of trusts
- Long-term care placements in nursing homes and life-care communities
- Nursing home issues, including questions of patients’ rights and nursing home quality
- Elder abuse and fraud recovery cases
- Housing issues, including discrimination and home equity conversions
- Age discrimination in employment
- Retirement, including public and private retirement benefits, survivor benefits and pension benefits
- Health law
- Mental health law
Finding an Elder Law Attorney
You first question should be: How do I find an elder attorney? Before making the effort, step back a moment and try to determine whether you actually have a legal problem in which an attorney needs to be involved. If you’re not sure, ask your clergy, you financial advisor, a social worker, or a trusted friend to help decide whether this is a legal issue rather than a medical or a social services issue. Legal expertise is expensive and it serves you well to know that you actually need legal assistance before seeking an attorney.
There are many places to find an attorney in your city or state who specializes in working with problems facing people as they age. Check with local agencies to obtain good local referrals. Some of the groups you may want to contact include:
If you know any attorneys, ask them for a referral to an elder law attorney. An attorney is in a good position to know who handles such issues and whether that person is a good attorney. Such persons are often the best and safest of referrals.
Source: www.naela.org
You first question should be: How do I find an elder attorney? Before making the effort, step back a moment and try to determine whether you actually have a legal problem in which an attorney needs to be involved. If you’re not sure, ask your clergy, you financial advisor, a social worker, or a trusted friend to help decide whether this is a legal issue rather than a medical or a social services issue. Legal expertise is expensive and it serves you well to know that you actually need legal assistance before seeking an attorney.
There are many places to find an attorney in your city or state who specializes in working with problems facing people as they age. Check with local agencies to obtain good local referrals. Some of the groups you may want to contact include:
- Alzheimer’s Association
- AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
- Area Agency on Aging
- Hospital or nursing home social services
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Social Security Administration
- State or local bar association
- Support groups for specific diseases
If you know any attorneys, ask them for a referral to an elder law attorney. An attorney is in a good position to know who handles such issues and whether that person is a good attorney. Such persons are often the best and safest of referrals.
Source: www.naela.org
Key questions to ask when interviewing a lawyer:
- How long have you been practicing elder law?
- What percentage of your law practice is elder law?
- Will you see me and my family through the entire process?
- Do you do home visits?
- What will it cost?
- Will I work with you or someone else in the office?
- How long does it take you to return phone calls and emails?
- Are you a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)?
- What recognition have you received as an elder law attorney?
- What will happen to my file when you stop practicing?
Financial Planning Resources
VICAP (Virginia Insurance counseling & assistance program)
VA Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP)
www.vda.virginia.gov/vicap.htm
www.vda.virginia.gov/vicap.htm
Tax Information
AARP Tax-Aide
www.aarp.org (search for Tax Aide)
or use direct address: www.tinyurl.com/aptaxaide
Volunteers prepare and electronically file tax returns free for low to middle income taxpayers. Volunteers are located nationwide, and are trained and IRS-certified yearly to assure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Tax help is provided in safe environments using a variety of methods based on a number of factors, including where you are located, COVID-19 spread, and volunteer availability.
or use direct address: www.tinyurl.com/aptaxaide
Volunteers prepare and electronically file tax returns free for low to middle income taxpayers. Volunteers are located nationwide, and are trained and IRS-certified yearly to assure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Tax help is provided in safe environments using a variety of methods based on a number of factors, including where you are located, COVID-19 spread, and volunteer availability.
