FOR RETIREES:  

4 Little Words Mean A Lot

What is a Certified Elder Law Attorney?

Retirement can be great, but it also can be overwhelming.  Tax rules are constantly changing. It’s nearly impossible to figure out your health insurance. There are government programs that can help you out, but not if you are unaware of them or how to qualify. 

Planning ahead can be tough. What should you do now to avoid being a burden on your family later?

How can you best provide for your family when you are gone? If illness strikes, how do you get the care you need at a price you can afford? Above all - how do you know if you are making the right decisions?

If you want to make the best decisions, you should remember these four words:

Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)

A CELA is a lawyer who has been certified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as having the experience and training required to provide the expert assistance needed by seniors. 

As a retiree you don’t have the opportunity to “start over” so mistakes can be particularly costly.  You want to get good advice. But there are hundreds of lawyers out there - how do you know which one to choose? The answer: Talk to a CELA.

But you have to be a smart consumer.  You need to understand that any lawyer is legally allowed to say she practices any kind of law, including “elder law.” No special knowledge is required.  So a lawyer’s statement that she practices elder law doesn’t mean much.

To deal with this problem and help retirees find a lawyer with special skill in elder law, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court established an elder law certification program. To be certified, a lawyer must have extensive experience in elder law, be recommended by other experts in elder law, and prove their knowledge by passing the difficult CELA examination. The test is tough. Most lawyers who take the CELA exam fail it.

Only lawyers who have met all of the Supreme Court’s requirements and passed the test are allowed to state that they have attained CELA status and are certified specialists in elder law. It is unethical for a lawyer to state that she is a CELA or specialist in elder law if she is not. So, when you are looking for legal help during retirement, you need to ask a very important question – Are you a CERTIFIED ELDER LAW ATTORNEY?

Most people know to ask if their doctor is board certified when they need specialized care. It makes similar common sense to seek the guidance of a lawyer who is a certified expert in the ever-changing field of elder law and planning.

The lawyers at Marshall, Parker & Associates are true specialists in elder law.  Five of our attorneys have earned CELA status – a distinction held by no other law firm in the United States.

L to R: Attorneys: Tammy Weber, Kevin Grebas, Jeffrey Marshall, Matthew Parker, Brenda Colbert

If you are a retiree and need help with estate planning, protecting your assets from nursing home costs, or other legal issues, choosing an elder lawyer may be the most important decisions you will make.  To help ensure that you will get the best possible legal care, make sure you remember those 4 important words and choose a Certified Elder Law Attorney. 

To schedule an appointment with one of our Certified Elder Law Attorneys, please Contact Us.

To read more about issues regarding elder law visit Attorney Marshall's Blog.