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Guardianships, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills
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  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:   This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. 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 This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.
Information on how to prevent financial exploitation.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
  
   
   Power of Attorney (PDF) This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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) This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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) This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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 This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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] This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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 This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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 This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (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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