Dallas County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 11

WHY HIRE AN
ELDER LAW ATTORNEY?
By Erin Peirce and Lauren Olson
With more than 10,000 people turning 65 every day, the senior population – along with its complex legal concerns – is growing at a rapid rate. Unfortunately, that means seniors are increasingly vulnerable to those who
are looking for an easy profit. It also means more and more individuals will have had some sort of experience
with elder care issues, and will claim to have an “expert opinion” based on that limited experience. Often,
nothing can be more damaging than an opinion based on limited experience with a limited understanding of
the ramifications.
These days, it is very difficult for an
attorney to be a “jack of all trades.”
The laws have become too complex. When it comes to the needs
of seniors, many people, including
many attorneys, do not know what
they do not know. Thus, like other issues concerning older
adults, elder law has
become a growing
area of legal practice.
As we age and require
more assistance from
others, it is important
to plan for your future
and ease the financial and emotional
burdens on your loved
ones. In doing so, it
can be very helpful to
engage the expertise
of an elder law attorney to navigate legal
issues specific to the
needs of seniors.
Unlike other legal fields, elder law
focuses on a type of client, rather
than a particular area of law. Elder
law attorneys handle a variety of
matters that affect seniors and individuals with special needs, including the