Legal Matters

Topics:

• General
• Advanced Medical Directives
• Elder Law

• Fraud & Abuse 
• Power of Attorney & Guardianship  
• Wills & Estate Planning

General

• American Bar Association
  The American Bar Association’s online Lawyer Referral Service lists local referral services by community on a state-by-state basis.
  
  
• Common Legal Concerns
  Basic information about wills, estate planning, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and other legal matters.
  
  
• Evaluating Attorneys
  Some general questions to ask if your loved one needs to find an attorney to handle any of his or her legal matters.
  

Advanced Medical Directives

• A Guide To Advance Directives 
  Some general information about advance directives, including do not resuscitate orders.
  
  
• Advance Medical Directives: The Basics
  These legal documents ensure that your loved one’s health-care wishes will be carried out even if he or she becomes incapacitated.
  
  
• Final Wishes: The Legal Options
  One of the FamilyCare America experts answers your questions on end-of-life legal procedures.
  

Elder Law

• Elder Law: The Basics
  What is elder law? Does your loved one need an elder law attorney? If so, how do you find one? Here are some answers.
  
  
• The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys 
  The NAELA is comprised of attorneys in the private and public sectors who deal with issues affecting seniors and people with diabilities. Visit this link to use their Elder Law Attorney Locator to find a member in your area.
  

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Fraud & Abuse

• Protecting Your Loved One From Abuse
  Unfortunately, unless you are able to be with your loved one 24-hours a day, you need to be aware of the dangers of possible care-recipient abuse.
  
  
• Protecting Your Loved One From Fraud
  The ill and the elderly are often the targets of con artists and other charlatans. Here is some basic information you may need to keep your loved one from becoming a victim of fraud.
  
  
• Spotting Health Fraud
  Unfortunately, the sick and elderly are often the targets of health fraud. How can you tell if your loved one has become a victim?
  

Power of Attorney & Guardianship

• An Overview of Guardianship
  Some basic facts about guardianship, assessment, and a guardian’s rights and responsibilities.
  
  
• Assessing a Ward’s Property
  After you have been assigned legal Guardianship for a loved one, you need to conduct a thorough assessment of his or her assets.
  
  
• Power Of Attorney: The Pros And Cons
  A checklist of advantages and disadvantages to think about if your loved one is considering drawing up a power of attorney.
  
  
• Powers Of Attorney: The Basics
  Some information to consider if your loved one is thinking about signing a power of attorney document.
  
  
• Specific Powers Of Attorney
  In addition to general powers of attorney, your loved one might want to look into specific power of attorney documents that grant only certain, tightly defined powers to the attorney-in-fact.
  
  
• The Guardianship Process
  The steps to take to have a legal guardian appointed for someone who is incompetent or incapacitated.
  
  
• What Is Power Of Attorney?
  An introduction to powers of attorney, including explanations of legal terms, different types of power of attorney documents, and other important information.
  
  
• Who Is A Guardian?
  Would you make a good guardian? Here’s how to find out.
  

Wills & Estate Planning

• Making A Will: The Basics
  While specific laws may differ, there are some general issues to consider when making a will.
  
  
• The ACTEC
  Find information on wills and trusts—or an experienced estate lawyer—at the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel’s home page.
  
  
• The Basics Of Probate
  If you’ve been reading about wills or trusts you have most likely come across the term probate. Clearly, this is a central issue in estate planning, but what exactly is probate?