50Plus - Legal Topics

Information about wills, advance directives, estate planning, and other topics of interest to adults over 50.

• American Bar Association: Public Resources
  In this “consumer law” section of its website, the ABA offers a wide range of reliable information on topics of interest to the general public. Special section: Also available are two free downloadable fact books: 1. Facts About Law and the Elderly which covers abuse, guardianship, grandparents’ rights, wills, etc., 2. Consumer’s Toolkit for Health Care Advance Planning which does not actually create an advance directive, but offers tools and tips to use before preparing this document.
• Crash Course in Wills & Trusts
  Concise, practical information about basic law covering wills, trusts and estates. Sponsored by AARP.
• Legal Issues - Seniors
  Topics include estate planning, advance directives, legal aid, long-term care insurance and more. From: AARP.
• National Council on Elder Abuse
  This organization, maintained by the U.S. Administration on Aging, serves as a gateway to resources on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It offers research and statistics, community education programs as well as links to laws related to elder abuse. Another important feature is an up-to-date listing of state elder abuse helplines and hotlines across the country.
• Senior Law Home Page
  Through this website (maintained by a private law firm), senior citizens, their families, attorneys, social workers, and financial planners can access information about elder law, Medicare, Medicaid, guardianship, estate planning, trusts and the rights of the elderly and disabled.
• State Bar of California
  State Bar Association offers wide range of reproducible fact sheets and pamphlets, many of particular interest to seniors; topics include: wills, estate plans, living trusts and elder abuse.
• Your Living Will: The New Advance Health Care Directive
  From the California Medical Association, this site features information about (as well as a non-reproducible sample copy of) advance health care directives which a person can use to appoint a health care agent and to express their health care wishes. A separate living will is not necessary if wishes about life-sustaining treatment have been specified in an Advance Health Care Directive.