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.
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Estate Planning
(Separate Website)
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
(Separate Website)
Information on inheritance and estate taxes from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
Small Estates
(Separate Website)
Information on small estates from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie 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
Legal Briefs: Pitfalls in Estate Planning
(Separate Website)
Information discussed by Attorney Whitney Hughes on the March 24, 2009 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Frequently Asked Questions - Law and Property Rights
(Separate Website)
Answers to common questions about law and property rights.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
The Truth About Probate and Living Trusts in Pennsylvania [PDF]
(Separate Website)
The ACBA produced this booklet to alleviate the confusion about living trusts and probate, and to protect consumers from purchasing a product that might not be right for them.
The booklet answers questions about probate, such as: What is Probate? What are the costs of Probate? Does Probate take a long time? The booklet also answers questions about a living trust, such as: Why am I now hearing so much about living trusts? Do I need a living trust?
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
The Truth About Living Trusts
(Separate Website)
This publication outlines what a living trust is, who needs one, advantages and disadvantages of having one, as well as myths and scams involving living trusts.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Trusts
(Separate Website)
Information about personal estate planning and a Trust.
By: Erie County Bar Association
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
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
Estate Recovery Program
(Separate Website)
Information on the Estate Recovery Program that enables the commonwealth to recover from the estate of individuals who were 55 years of age or older at the time nursing facility services or home and community-based services were received.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
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)
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)
A Consumer Reference Guide for Seniors [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Reference guide for seniors regarding how to avoid scams and frauds. [PDF Format, 43 pages)
By: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Automobile Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to automobiles.
By: PALawHELP.org
Bankruptcy Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to bankruptcy.
By: PALawHELP.org
Brochures for Older Consumers
(Separate Website)
Listing of information brochures on a number of topics for seniors.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Consumer Protection Information for consumers from the SeniorLAW Center.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Consumer Protection Information Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to consumer protection information.
By: PALawHELP.org
Contract and Warranty Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to contracts and warranties.
By: PALawHELP.org
Credit Access Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to credit access.
By: PALawHELP.org
Credit Report Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to credit reports.
By: PALawHELP.org
Debt Collection & Repossession Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to debt collection and repossession.
By: PALawHELP.org
Getting Older and Going Places
(Separate Website)
Information on benefits for older drivers and older riders.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Nutrition Assistance for Older Americans
(Separate Website)
Fact Sheet providing information on federal programs that provide nutrition assistance to older Americans.
By: American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
PA Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program
(Separate Website)
Program overview on property tax relief, rebate estimate calculator, commonly asked questions, as well as downloadable forms and instruction booklet. Claimants or spouses 65 years of age or older; widows or widowers 50 years of age or older; and permanently disabled 18 years of age or older may qualify.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Pennsylvania Health and Human Services Resource Guide
(Separate Website)
The Pennsylvania Health and Human Services Resource Guide is your all-in-one handbook for the services that are available to you as a Pennsylvania resident.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Protecting Yourself From Financial Exploitation Information on how to prevent financial exploitation.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Scams Targeting Seniors Senior Citizens in Pennsylvania (Video)
Three-part excerpt from Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" cable access television show broadcast on Erie Cablevision (Channel 2) in Erie, PA. June 28, 2007
Host: Robert Oakley, Esq., NWLS Director Guests: Linda J. Williams, Esq., Chief Deputy Attorney General of PA and John Tokarczyk, Senior Supervisory Agent, PA Bureau of Consumer Protection
Part 1 - Help is available, overview of typical scams, filing consumer complaints, problems relating to credit. (8:26)
Part 2 - Identifying door to door scams, what to do if you suspect a scam, be leary of internet scams and an overview of some internet scams underway. (7:01)
Part 3 - Scams relating to door-to-door contractors, how to protect yourself, what is the Better Business Bureau and how it can help, problems with identify theft and how it may affect you. (12:30)
Click on title to view video.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Tax Tips & Information
(Separate Website)
Information on matters relating to filing taxes, earned income tax credit and tax scams.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
The Home Repair Contract A Senior Citizen's Guid to Home Repair.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Utility Resources
(Separate Website)
Consumer law resources relating to utilities.
By: PALawHELP.org
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)
Abuse
(Separate Website)
Information on the Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse Act from the Erie County Bar Association.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Are You Being Threatened or Abused in your Home?
(Separate Website)
Information on where you can get help if you are a victm of elder abuse or domestic violence.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Eldercare Locator
(Separate Website)
The Eldercare Locator connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Frequently Asked Questions - Law and the Elderly
(Separate Website)
Answers to common questions about law and the elderly.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
National Center on Elder Abuse
(Separate Website)
Website dedicated to to helping national, state, and local partners in the field be fully prepared to ensure that older Americans will live with dignity, integrity, independence, and without abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The NCEA is a resource for policy makers, social service and health care practitioners, the justice system, researchers, advocates, and families.
By: U. S. Administration on Aging
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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.
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PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
(Separate Website)
