Updated 2007
The Law and Aging Guide is a comprehensive listing of the state-wide resources available to help older persons with law-related issues. Published by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, the Guide includes important contact numbers and addresses for legal assistance providers and other law-related services for the elderly. Many states now have toll-free senior legal hotlines. If you are an older person (or family member or trusted friend of an older person) who needs legal advice or assistance, the first step is to see if your state has a hotline, and, if it does, to call the hotline listed below.
[Note: If you are legal services provider or entity listed below, please email any changes of address or information to the ABA Commission at abaelderly@abanet.org , attn: Law and Aging Guide.]
Florida
A. Hotline Number: (888) 895-7873
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Sarah Graham Halsell, Esq.
Legal Services Developer
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
4040 Esplanade Way., Bldg. B, Ste. 152
Tallahassee, FL 32399-7000
(850) 414-2000; fax (850) 414-2006
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Brian E. Lee
Long Term Care Ombudsman
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
4040 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(888) 831-0404; fax (850) 414-2377
Web: http://www.myflorida.com/ombudsman
D. Legal Services Funded Under the Older Americans Act
If your income falls within certain guidelines, you may be able to get legal help from the Legal Services or Legal Aid program in your area. In some communities, the Older Americans Act program serving older people and the legal aid program are one and the same. For a state-by-state listing of Legal Services programs, go to http://www.lsc.gov
Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging
(850) 595-5428
Serves Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties
Area Agency on Aging of North Florida, Inc.
2414 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
(850) 488-0055; (866) 467-4624
Web: www.aaanf.org
Serves Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor,
Wakulla and Washington Counties
Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging
5700 S.W. 34th Street, Suite 222
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 378-6649; (800) 262-2243
Web: www.mfaaa.org
Serves Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee and Union Counties
Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging
4160 Woodcock Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 777-2106; (888) 242-4464
Web: www.elderhelpline.org
Serves Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns and Volusia Counties
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas
9887 4th Street North, Suite 100
St. Petersburg, Florida 33702
(727) 570-9696
Web: www.agingcarefl.org
Serves Pasco and Pinellas Counties
West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
5905 Breckenridge Parkway, Suite F
Tampa, Florida 33610-4239
(813)740-3888
Web: www.wcfaaa.org
Serves Highland, Manatee, Hillsborough and Polk Counties
Senior Resource Alliance
988 Woodcock Road, Suite 200
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 228-1800
Web: www.seniorresourcealliance.org
Serves Brevard, Seminole, Orange and Osceola Counties
Senior Solutions of Southwest Florida
2285 First St.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 332-4233; (800) 398-4233
Web: www.aaaswfl.org
Serves Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota Counties
Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Inc.
1764 N. Congress Ave., Suite 201
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
(561) 684-5885
Web: www.areaagency.org
Serves Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties
Area Agency on Aging of Broward County
5345 NW 35th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309-6315
(954) 714-3456
Web: www.seniorsummit.org
Serves Broward County
Alliance for Aging
(305) 670-6500
Serves Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties
E. Bar Committees/Sections
The Florida State Bar
\
Elder Law Section
John W. Staunton, Chair
651 E. Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
(850) 561-5600
Web: http://www.floridabar.org
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
- Florida Chapter
Alice Reiter Feld, CELA
President, Florida Chapter of NAELA
Tamarac, FL 33321
(954) 726-6602
G. Legal Assistance Projects Involving Private Attorneys
Many communities are also served by volunteer lawyer (pro bono) programs. These programs are usually sponsored by bar associations. Lawyers in private practice volunteer to help low-income persons free of charge. To find the pro bono program in your state, click on http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/probonodirectory.html
Reduced Fee Lawyer Referral and Information Services for the Elderly
Elderly Referral Plan
Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service
650 Apalachee Pkwy.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
(904) 561-5844; (800) 342-8011
The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service has established a reduced-fee panel for the elderly. The panel assists people over 60 years of age who are not eligible for legal aid, but who still have an annual income of over $10,000 or less for a household of two or $13,000 or less for a household of four. Eligible people receive a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney. If additional services are necessary, they are provided at less than the attorney's normal rates. The plan is funded by the Lawyer Referral Service income and operates statewide, except in localities with existing lawyer referral services.
Jacksonville Bar Association
1102 Barnett Bank Bldg.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 354-2144
The Jacksonville Bar Association has created an Elderly Low-Fee Panel of attorneys to represent elderly clients with income up to 150 percent of the poverty guidelines at a substantially reduced fee. Two percent of private attorneys in Jacksonville participate.
Special Panels for Elderly (Pro Bono/Reduced Fee)
Disability Panel
Disability Panel, Lawyer Referral Service
The Florida Bar
650 Apalachee Pkwy.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
(904) 561-5844; (800) 342-8011
Attorneys participating in the statewide Disability Panel offer a free 30-minute consultation. Costs are handled on a pro bono or reduced fee basis, but panel attorneys are entitled to any statutory fee awarded.
Guardianship Panel
Lutheran Ministries of Florida
4525 S. Manhattan Ave.
Tampa, FL 33611
(813) 831-4449
Since 1982, the Lutheran Ministries of Florida has operated a Volunteer Guardianship Program through which more than 50 private attorneys serve as guardians for more than 100 wards in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties. The program is a mixture of pro bono, reduced fee, and full fee. The program cooperates with Gulfcoast Legal Services and Bay Area Legal Services. Funders include The Florida Bar Foundation and the Area Agency on Aging.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
University of Florida
Levin College of Law
P.O. Box 117621
Gainesville, FL 32611-7621
Florida Coastal School of Law
7555 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32216
(904) 680-7700
Florida State University
College of Law
425 W. Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1601
University of Miami School of Law
P.O. Box 248087
Coral Gables, FL 33124
(305) 284-6746
Nova Southeastern University
3305 College Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314
(954) 262-6100
St. Thomas University
16400 N.W. 32nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33054-6459
(305) 625-6000; fax (305) 628-6510
Stetson University College of Law
1401 61st St., S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33707-3299
(727) 562-7800
I. Attorney General's Office
Bill McCollum, Attorney General
The Capitol, PL01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
(850) 245-0140
Web: www.myfloridalegal.com
The Florida Attorney General's office does not have a separate unit addressing elderly issues, but work on such matters is conducted by units including Medicaid Fraud and Consumer Protection. The office provides information, referrals, and mediation of disputes related to the "Lemon Law." Community education is offered on topics such as telemarketing fraud and automobile leasing.
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities
2671 Executive Ctr., Circle West, Ste. 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301-5024
(850) 488-9071; (800) 342-0823; (866) 346-4127 TDD
Web: http://www.advocacycenter.org
K. Dispute Resolution
Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium
325 John Knox Rd., Ste. G-100
Tallahassee, FL 32303-4161
(850) 921-9069
Association of Broward County Mediators
2523 N.E. 23rd St.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
(954) 565-8651; fax (954) 561-8396
Email: dbass@ibm.net
This association promotes continued professional education and networking for mediation professionals in its monthly meetings, quarterly newsletter, annual seminar, and membership directory. It provides an interdisciplinary connection between alternative dispute resolution practitioners and graduate students to the legal, business, mental health, governmental, and education communities throughout South Florida. In addition to furnishing professional mediation services and training, this association also maintains speakers bureau.
L. Other Projects
