Senior Assistance
Bay Area Legal Services provides free legal advice and representation to seniors. Its Senior Advocacy staff is commited to promoting the dignity, self-determination, and quality of life of elderly clients by empowering them through legal assistance and access to the legal system.
Who is Eligible?
Any senior who is 60 years or older, a resident of Hillsborough County, and a U.S. citizen or legal resident may apply for assistance by contacting Bay Area's Legal Aid Line (1-800-625-2257). Seniors living in Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee or Sarasota Counties may contact Bay Area's Legal Aid Line for information about eligibility and how to access senior assistance in their counties. Seniors who don't live in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, or Sarasota Counties, but do live in Florida, can call Bay Area's What is Senior Advocacy?
Seniors seeking legal help who suffer from infirmities of age, illness, or disability will receive priority and additional assistance to address any mental or physical limitations. If you have special needs due to illness or disability, we may be able to arrange a home visit. Senior Statewide Helpline.
Bay Area can assist seniors with a variety of civil legal matters including:
Family Law Assistance
Divorce
Guardianship-Caregiver Advocacy Program (For a list of other organizations that may also provide assistance to you, regarding guardianship of a senior or guardianship of a minor child. Please go to our Senior Links Page)
Custody
Visitation
Relative Caregivers
Adoption
Dependency Cases
Limited Power of Attorney
Housing Preservation
Homeownership
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Mortgage Foreclosures
Federally Subsidized Housing
Housing Code Violations
Home Improvement Problems - Senior Home Ownership Protection (SHOPP) SHOPP Brochure.pdf
Consumer Protection
Medical Bills
Debt Collection
Contracts
Review of Loans
Public Utilites
Bankruptcy
Click here to read an article written by Ellen Cheek, BALS attorney, Senior Legal Helpline.
Income Preservation
Social Security
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
Unemployment Compensation
Food Stamps
Veterans' Benefits
Health Care Rights
Medicare
Medicaid
Supplemental Insurance
Nursing Home
Health Care Rights
Individual Rights
Living Wills*
Affidavits of Health Care Proxy *
Health Care Surrogates*
Durable Powers of Attorney*
*If you are not sure what these are or how they could help you, please click here to read our Senior Individual Rights [PDF] for more detailed information.
