Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
There are 26 resources
SeniorLAW Telephone Help Line
SeniorLAW Helpline - 877 PA SR LAW (1-877-727-7529) The statewide toll-free SeniorLAW Helpline - 877 PA SR LAW (877-727-7529) - provides free legal advice, information and referrals by telephone for all Pennsylvania seniors 60 and over.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Online Applications, Benefit Screening, Resources and Forms
Lancaster Court Self-Help Center
(Separate Website)
The Lancaster County Court Self Help Center opened in July, 2004. The main purpose of the Center is to provide one central location where self-represented litigants can obtain some of the information and forms that they may need to represent themselves in certain types of court actions.
By: Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Power of Attorney
Information about what a power of attorney is and when you should use one
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Older and Wiser Seminars
(Separate Website)
The Older & Wiser program, piloted by Neighborhood Legal Services Association and southwestern Pennsylvania legislators, is a public service initiative providing free legal information seminars on matters of special importance to elderly adults and their families. The seminars are available throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Information from Other Legal Aid Providers
A Senior Citizen’s Guide to Basic Personal Planning: Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions
(Separate Website)
Information on tools used in personal planning, including wills, living wills, powers of attorney and guardianships.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Standby Guardianship: A New Tool for Those Caring for Children
(Separate Website)
Information on the Pennsylvania Standby Guardianship Act which allows parents and caregivers to designate someone to immediately act as a child’s legal guardian in the event of death or grave illness.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Preventing Financial Exploitation: What Every Senior Needs to Know
(Separate Website)
Information on ways in which senior citizens are being financially exploited and ways in which seniors can avoid becoming victims. Specifically covered are abuse of power of attorney; joint bank account problems; deed transfers; and credit card fraud.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Protecting Yourself From Financial Exploitation Information on how to prevent financial exploitation.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Power of Attorney (PDF)
(Separate Website)
This publication provides general information about powers of attorney.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Medical Consent: A New Tool for Grandparents and Others Caring for Children
(Separate Website)
Information on the Medical Consent Act, which allows a parent or legal custodian to authorize another person to consent to medical, dental or mental health care for children by completing and signing a simple document.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Guardianship in Pennsylvania (PDF)
(Separate Website)
The purpose of this booklet is to describe Pennsylvania's guardianship procedures to persons with disabilities, their parents, service providers, advocates, and friends.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Guardianship
(Separate Website)
Information on legal guardianship from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
Power of Attorney
(Separate Website)
Informatin on Power of Attorney from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
Advance Health Care Declarations (Living Will)
(Separate Website)
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney
(Separate Website)
Information on living wills and healthcare powers of attorney.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Advance Health Care Declarations (Living Wills)
(Separate Website)
Information on advance health care directives and living wills from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
What is a power of attorney and how does it work (Video)
(Separate Website)
Information presented on the May 22, 2007 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh Today Live Show. (5:13)
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
End of Life Planning (Video)
(Separate Website)
Information presented on the October 10, 2006 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh Today Live Show. (7:11)
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Frequently Asked Questions - Law and the Elderly
(Separate Website)
Answers to common questions about law and the elderly.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
10 Legal Myths About Advance Medical Directives
(Separate Website)
The facts about 10 Legal Myths About Advance Medical Directives.
By: ABA Commission on Law and Aging
Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
(Separate Website)
This Tool Kit contains a variety of self-help worksheets, suggestions, and resources to help you discover, clarify, and communicate what is important to you in the face of serious illness so that you can decide what you need in an advance directive for health care.
By: American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Senior Citizens [PDF]
(Separate Website)
The handbook provides valuable information on legal issues and questions that concern Pennsylvania's senior citizens and the persons and organizations that care for them. (PDF Format, 83 pages)
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Elder Law Handbook
(Separate Website)
The Elder Law Handbook, published in 2002, is a comprehensive legal guide to issues of importance to senior citizens. It provides information about issues often encountered by the elderly and incorporates contacts for resources available to seniors in the community
By: Erie County Bar Association
Issues on Aging
(Separate Website)
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Information from Government Agencies
Advance Directive for Health Care (Living Will)
(Separate Website)
Information on advance directives that you may use, under certain circumstances, to tell others what care you would like to receive or not receive should you become unable to express your wishes at some time in the future.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Understanding Advance Directives for Health Care
(Separate Website)
Information on Advance Directives for Health Care and Living Wills including the statutory form for an advanced directive.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
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