215-988-1242 (Philadelphia residents) 1-877-727-7529 1-877-PA SR LAW (all other PA residents)

To improve the lives of older Pennsylvanians and protect their rights through legal representation, education and advocacy.

On issues of import to the lives of older Pennsylvanians, including voting rights, grandparent custody, housing, and elder abuse.

Income guidelines: Seniors with the greatest economic and social needs

Age guidelines: 60 years old or older

Geographic guidelines:
*Philadelphia County for extended representation
*All 67 counties of PA for legal advice, information, counsel and referral services (limited representation)

Phone intake: M, T, W, Th 10 a.m – 2 p.m..

Walk-ins: T & Th – Legal Emergencies Only

Note: Victims of abuse and violence are seen as an emergency at any time the office is open

In-person intake appointments are also made for monthly community legal clinics at partner venues throughout Philadelphia. See www.seniorlawcenter.org for dates and contact information.

Potential clients speak with a legal staff member who takes initial information, with extended follow-up by staff attorney who screens for eligibility and legal merit of those seeking extended representation or who provides legal advice and limited representation. Completed intakes for extended representation are reviewed by the Managing Attorney and assigned to a legal staff member or referred to a volunteer attorney in that area. If client’s case is an emergency, a response is immediate.

Home, hospital, nursing home and hospice visits and services are available for homebound, chronically ill and severely disabled elders.

Language Line available for all services.

For Extended Representation:

Housing/Utilities: home repair contractor problems; landlord/tenant issues; utility problems; fair housing; real estate taxes; deed transfers/claiming title; and demolition and other property damage issues.

Consumer Protection: contracts and warranties; fraudulent/unfair sales practices; small claims and unfair debt collection; credit reporting problems; private health/hospital insurance; and private pension issues.

Family Law: protection from abuse; investigation/prevention of financial exploitation; and custody & support for grandparents and other kinship caregivers.

Personal Planning: drafting of wills; health care directives; probate of small estates; Medicaid; estate recovery counseling.

PA SeniorLAW HelpLine: ALL AREAS OF CIVIL LAW

Homeowners Assistance Program: provides elder homeowners with legal services, education, and advocacy needed to remain independent in safe, habitable homes.

Neighborhood Legal Clinics: held at several community partner sites monthly throughout the city, focused primarily on minority communities. See www.seniorlawcenter.org for details, dates and addresses.

KinC.A.N. (Kinship Caregiver Assistance Network): provides representation and education for seniors are acting as caregivers for, or seeking custody of minor relative children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned.

Legal Services for Hispanic Elders: providing bilingual bicultural services, education and advocacy for Hispanic elders, holding workshops and community-based legal clinics each month in communities in Kensington and North Philadelphia.

Project S.A.F.E. (Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation): combats various forms of elder abuse through representation, training, community education and advocacy.

Philadelphia Landlord Tenant Help Center: court-based services of free legal information, advice, and limited representation to unrepresented, low-income individuals of all ages who are facing eviction and other legal rental housing problems in Philadelphia

Planning to Age With Dignity: provides life planning and advance decisionmaking document drafting for low-income seniors, including health care and financial POAs, living wills and simple wills.

Enhanced Services Program: provides direct legal services to older adults 55+ of modest means for affordable fees in the 5-county region in focused areas of law. Earned income returns to support SeniorLAW Center’s full range of free legal services for the most vulnerable seniors.

OTHER SERVICES: Advocacy through participation on task forces, coalitions, committees concerned with aging, poverty, women’s rights, domestic violence, intergenerational families, equality and other key issues. Community and professional education workshops on legal issues affecting the elderly. Law student training for students who work at SeniorLAW Center to develop skills in client counseling and representation, negotiating, advocacy, research and legal writing and elder law issues. Many diverse pro bono programs, practice groups, Life Planning Clinics, and other pro bono opportunities.

Karen C. Buck, Esq.

Sangeeta Prasad, Esq., Managing Attorney