What Does an Elder Law Attorney Do?

The Short Answer

An elder law attorney helps older adults and their families with legal planning and problem-solving around aging. Typical work includes:

• Estate planning — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives
• Guardianship and conservatorship — court processes when an adult can no longer decide for themselves
• Long-term care planning — understanding care options and how to pay for them
• Benefits counseling — Medicaid, veterans benefits, and Social Security questions
• Elder abuse response — addressing suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation

Why the Issues Overlap

Aging rarely presents one legal question at a time. A dementia diagnosis, for example, can simultaneously raise questions about who makes medical decisions, how to pay for care, whether existing documents are adequate, and whether the person is safe from exploitation. Elder law attorneys are accustomed to looking at these questions together.

What They Don’t Do

An elder law attorney is not a financial planner, a geriatric care manager, or a doctor — though they often work alongside these professionals. They also cannot guarantee outcomes; anyone who promises a specific result should be treated with skepticism.

How to Prepare for a First Conversation

Gather existing wills or trusts, powers of attorney, a list of assets and debts, insurance information, and any paperwork related to your question (benefits letters, medical diagnoses, court documents). You don’t need everything perfectly organized — but having the basics on hand makes the conversation more productive.