Legal Services

The Department’s Legal Services Developer, an attorney, provides legal advice to the Elder Abuse and Ombudsman Provider Agencies. The Area Agencies on Aging fund local legal services for older people, and the Legal Services Developer oversees the program and provides technical assistance upon request.

The senior legal assistance provider offices, of which there are 21 around the state, provide legal services to Illinoisans 60 years of age or older. Legal assistance providers advocate for and represent older clients in civil cases – particularly those involving...

• elder abuse and neglect,
• financial exploitation,
• consumer fraud,
• landlord-tenant relationships,
• nursing home residents’ rights, and
• conflicts over benefit programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social security and pensions.

They also...

• help with simple estate planning, living wills, and powers of attorney,
• perform research and
• conduct educational programs regarding legal rights on a wide variety of legal issues.

Each provider serves a specific geographical area, usually several counties.

Advance Directives

For information on Advance Directives, such as the "Durable Power of Attorney for Property," "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care," and "Living Will," link to the Advance Directives.

Contact

To locate legal assistance services in your community, contact...

• your local Legal Services Office. See the list in the Directory of Agencies and Organizations Serving Seniors;
• your local Area Agency on Aging; or
• the Senior HelpLine.

See also publications and Web sites related to this program:

• Publications
• Related Web Sites