Why? Because they have demonstrated that they understand your legal problems, and they can help you. The Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) certification has frequently been referred to as “the gold standard” for elder law and special needs practitioners.
Full Answer
The main purpose of an elder law attorney is to help aging Americans to legally navigate through the issues of life that arise simply because of age. They can offer legal guidance and counseling on preparing for long-term care, choosing retirement plans, planning and settling your estate and a host of other issues that older Americans may face.
If you would like to find an elder law attorney to speak with or work with, asking your friends and family who they recommend is always a good place to start. The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only national organization that certifies elder and special needs law attorneys.
The Older Americans Act (OAA) was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and is credited by the American Bar Association with being the foundation for the practice of elder law. The OAA was the first initiative on a federal level to address and provide a wide range of services for senior citizens.
It’s important that you find an attorney that’s right for you. This person will be helping you with some personal and private matters over the course of time and you want to make sure you feel comfortable with them.
An elderly person has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, without regard to race, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, marital status, or source of payment. This means that the elderly person has the right to: Make his or her own choices about personal affairs, care, benefits, and services, and.
Georgia has special laws to protect residents 65 years of age and older, disabled adults 18 years of age and older who are mentally or physically incapacitated or who have Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and residents of long-term care facilities.
In Georgia, you can only be given power of attorney through a written document signed by the person granting you the power, known as the principal. You should always talk to a lawyer if you need legal advice or have questions about any specific power of attorney issues in Georgia.
Elder Abuse Explained… Upon conviction, an offender can be imprisoned for 1 – 20 years and/or fined $50,000. Further, any person found guilty of threatening, intimidating or attempting to intimidate an elder person or disabled adult will be convicted of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
Before being certified, an applicant must: 1. Have practiced law for at least five years, and have focused at least half of their practice in the special needs/elder law field for at least the last three of those years. 2.
Because they have demonstrated that they understand your legal problems, and they can help you. The Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) certification has frequently been referred to as “the gold standard” for elder law and special needs practitioners.
What is a Certified Elder Law Attorney? Elder Law Attorneys are certified by the Board of Certification of the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), a non-profit organization founded in 1993, which is devoted to developing and improving the professional competence of lawyers focused in elder law and special needs planning.
Have participated in at least 45 hours of continuing education in elder law during three years preceding the application.
The CELA certification by the National Elder Law Foundation is the only accepted certification in the field of Elder Law. It is the only ABA approved Elder Law Certification that is recognized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Have spent an average of at least 16 hours per week practicing elder law during the three years preceding the application for certification. In addition, the attorney must have handled at least 60 elder law matters during those three years with a specified distribution among subjects as defined by the National Elder Law Foundation.
Have practiced law for at least five years prior to applying for certification and must still be practicing law.
Certified elder law attorneys are committed through certification to maintain and improve their proficiency with both continual practice and continuing legal education. They specialize in elder care issues such as long-term care planning, wills, trusts, probate, and powers of attorney. They are uniquely trained to serve elder care clients.
A certified elder law attorney must meet comprehensive and strict requirements established by the National Elder Law Foundation which is the only recognized authority to certify elder law attorneys by the American Bar Association.
The Board's expectations of an elder law attorney's knowledge are expansive. To become a certified, the attorney must know the following subjects:
Certification is open to licensed attorneys who have been in practice five years or more.
Certainly, there are lawyers who are not certified that are competent to handle most elder law matters. However, lawyers who are certified as specialists have been recognized by independent professional certifying organizations as having an enhanced level of skill, as well as substantial involvement in established legal specialty areas.
The Older Americans Act (OAA) was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and is credited by the American Bar Association with being the foundation for the practice of elder law. The OAA was the first initiative on a federal level to address and provide a wide range of services for senior citizens.
At some point in our life, chances are good we will need the help of an attorney. As we age and begin planning for our retirement future, and ultimately, our death, seeking counsel from an elder law attorney can be beneficial. Attorneys who practice elder law are knowledgeable in several areas that directly affect senior citizens.
If you decide that speaking with an elder law attorney is right for you, there are some questions you will want to consider asking before entering into an agreement. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) says in your initial phone call to an attorney’s office, you may end up speaking with the attorney’s secretary or office manager.
NAELA also has a recommended list of questions to ask when you choose an elder law attorney you want to work with. Once you’ve explained your particular situation and the reason for your meeting, you’ll want to find out the answer to the following issues:
If you would like to find an elder law attorney to speak with or work with, asking your friends and family who they recommend is always a good place to start. The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only national organization that certifies elder and special needs law attorneys.
Have spent an average of at least 16 hours a week practicing elder law during the three years preceding the application for certification. The attorney must also have handled at least 60 elder law matters during those three years with a specified distribution among a wide variety of topics.
A Certified Elder Law Attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in the field of elder law. CELAs are committed, through certification, to maintaining and improving their proficiency with continual practice and continual legal education. Becoming certified in elder law validates a lawyer’s specialty to handle issues that affect senior citizens. A CELA is in a unique position to serve the interests of older, maturing populations by having met comprehensive and strict requirements.