As baby boomers age and their parents live well into their 90s or even over 100, the field of elder law has continued to expand to meet the legal needs of this growing population. But what exactly is elder law, and why do you need to know about it?
Definition of Elder Law
In its broadest sense, elder law is the specialized field of law that addresses the diverse legal needs of the aged. This includes the following legal areas:
- Disability planning, including special needs planning
- Long term care planning, including Medicaid planning and veterans benefits
- Estate planning
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Estate settlement, including probate and trust administration
- Elder abuse, both personal and financial