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 412 resources
Page 1 of 11
Advance Directives, Guardianships, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills
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
Power of Attorney in Pennsylvania
Information on what is a Power of Attorney (POA), guidelines when selecting an agent, what happens if I become mentally unable to make my own decisions, when does it go into effect, when does it end, and the process involved in setting up a POA.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
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
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
(Separate Website)
This publication provides general information about powers of attorney. This information is in Microsoft Word format.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
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)
Information 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
Legal Briefs: Powers of Attorney (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
Legal Briefs: 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
Myths and Facts About Health Care Advance Directives
(Separate Website)
Dispelling myths and stating the facts about Health Care Advance 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
Five Big Myths of Advance Care Planning and How to Stay Anchored in Reality (Audio Podcast)
This podcast, recorded April 13, 2010, is presented free to the general public by the ABA Health Law Section, the Senior Lawyers Division and the ABA Commission on Law and Aging.
This program addresses the five biggest myths that plague advance care planning and how to steer clear of them and make advance care planning more effective. A slide presentation presented during the podcast is also available for viewing while listening.
By: Health Law Section of the American Bar Association
Health and Financial Decisions: Legal Tools for Preserving Your Personal Autonomy
(Separate Website)
Inportant information on preserving your right to make decisions about your life.
By: American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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
Issues on Aging
(Separate Website)
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill
(Separate Website)
The "Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill" is designed for both the seriously ill individual and those caring for someone who is seriously ill. The guide explains "Seven Key Steps" in a brief, clear way while offering additional tips and resources for readers looking for more detailed information and guidance.
By: American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else
(Separate Website)
This booklet describes in simple terms what it?s like to be a health care proxy, what to do while there?s still time to think about it, how to make the hard decisions, and where to get help.
By: American Bar Association Commission on Law and 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
Don't Forget Your Retirement Benefits When You Consider Your Estate Planning
(Separate Website)
Information on retiement benefits and estate planning and end-of-life issues.
By: The Pension Rights Project
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
Petition to Waive Court Costs
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a Petition to Waive Court Fees which can be used to ask the Pennsylvania Court for permission to file legal papers for free. This form can be used in most types of court cases in Pennsylvania. Approval to waive fees is not automatic. You will need to ask the Court to approve your Petition. Instructions will be included. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form; you will need to answer questions while connected to the Internet.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word to print your documents.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
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
What You Should Know About Probate (but were afraid to ask) Questions and answers about probate, inheritance and estates.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Wills
(Separate Website)
Information on wills from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
What is a will?
(Separate Website)
Information on wills from the Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Do I need a will?
(Separate Website)
Information on wills from the Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
What does a will control?
(Separate Website)
Information on wills from Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Is a will the same as an "estate plan"?
(Separate Website)
Information about wills and estates from the Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
What if I die without a will?
(Separate Website)
Information on wills and estates from the Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
What is joint tenancy?
(Separate Website)
Information on jointly held property from the Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Does joint tenancy property go through probate?
(Separate Website)
Information on jointly owned property from the Allegheny County Bar Association.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Page 1 of 11
Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct.
We do not intend this information to legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
Lawyer Advertising. This web site is not intended to be advertising or solicitation. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based on advertisements. Before hiring an attorney, you should investigate his or her reputation and qualifications.
Links. Some of the items listed here have not been prepared by us, but are instead "links" to information prepared and posted by others. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted on other sites. The links are not intended to imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons who created those sites, nor are the links intended to imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.
E-mail. Viewing this web site, or transmitting an e-mail message through this web site, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Sending e-mail to an attorney mentioned in this site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship between you and the attorney. Unless you are already a client of the attorney, your e-mail may NOT be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Moreover, unless it is encrypted, e-mail can be intercepted by persons other than the recipient.
Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not obtain an attorney immediately to advise you. Many people do not check their e-mail daily, and some attorneys do not respond to unsolicited e-mail from non-clients.
PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
PDF File
(Separate Website)
