Elder Law

According to the American Bar Association, between baby boomers reaching senior citizenship, declining birthrates and longer lifespans, the United States will become a lot grayer over the next few decades. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2035, for the first time in American history, there will be more adults age 65 and older than children. By 2060, nearly a quarter of Americans will be age 65 and older, while the number of people age 85 and older will triple.

Elder law encompasses a variety of specialties, including estate tax, wills, trusts and probate, special needs and disability trusts. Although these categories may be part of an elder law practice, they are also legal issues that affect younger people, as well.  Some of the areas of practice that have traditionally been considered a part of elder law actually impact people regardless of their age. For example, it is not just the elderly who need protection from financial exploitation or who need custodial care, and not only senior citizens require a guardian after they have a stroke, early onset of Alzheimer’s disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).  Senior citizens as well as their relatives are concerned with Medicare and Medicaid issues, long-term care planning, age-discrimination disputes, veterans benefits, inheritance disputes and elder abuse, among other categories.