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.]
Michigan
A. Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors: (800) 347-5297
Elder Law of Michigan, Inc.
221 N. Pine St.
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 372-5959
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Lynne Weinstein- McCollum
MI Office of Services to the Aging
P.O. Box 30676
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-7692
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Sarah Slocum
State Long-term Care Ombudsman
Michigan Office of Services to the Aging
7109 West Saginaw
P.O. Box 30676
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-0148; fax (517) 373-4092
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
Detroit Area Agency on Aging
(313) 446-4444
Serves Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Harper Woods cities
Area Agency On Aging 1B
29100 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 400
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 357-2255; (800) 852-7795
Web: www.aaa1b.com
Serves St. Clair, Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Macomb and Monroe
The Senior Alliance 1-C
(734) 722-2830
Serves Wayne County except areas served by 1-A; primary service area: 34 communities of Southern and Western Wayne County, Michigan. Communities: Allen Park, Belleville, Brownstown Township, Canton Township, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Garden City, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township, Huron Township, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Melvindale, Northville, Northville Township, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Redford Township, River Rouge, Riverview, Romulus, Southgate, Sumpter Township, Taylor, Trenton, Van Buren Township, Wayne, Westland, Woodhaven and Wyandotte
Region 2 Area Agency on Aging
(517) 467-2204; (800) 335-7881
Serves Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee
Region 3-A Area Agency on Aging
(269) 373-5147
Serves Kalamazoo
Region 3-B Area Agency on Aging
Burnham Brook - Battle Creek
200 West Michigan Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49017
(269) 966-2566
Web: www.burnhambrook.com
Serves Barry and Calhoun
Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging 3C
(517) 279-9561; (888) 615-8009
Serves Branch and St. Joseph
Region IV Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
(269) 983-7058; (800) 442-2803
Serves Cass, Berrien and Van Buren
Valley Area Agenc0y On Aging
(810) 239-7671; (800) 978-6275
Serves Genessee, Lapeer and Shiawassee
Tri-County Office on Aging
(517) 887-1440; (800) 405-9141
Serves Clinton, Eaton and Ingham
Region VII Area Agency on Aging
(989) 893-4506; (800) 858-1637
Serves Bay, Clair, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola
Area Agency On Aging of Western Michigan
1279 Cedar NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 456-5664; (888) 456-5664
Web: www.aaawm.org
Serves Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Osceola
Northeast Michigan Comm. Service Agency, Inc.
Region IX Area Agency on Aging
(989) 356-3474; (800) 219-2273
Serves Alcona, Arenac, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon
Area Agency On Aging of Northwest Michigan #10
(231) 947-8920; (800) 442-1713
Serves Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford
UPCAP Services, Inc.
(906) 786-4701; (800) 338-7227
Serves Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce. Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft
Senior Resources
(231) 739-5858; (800) 442-0054
Serves Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa
E. Bar Committees/Sections
State Bar of Michigan
Elder Law Advocacy Section
Sanford J. Mall, Chair
Michael Franck Building
306 Townsend Street
Lansing, Michigan 48933-2083
(517) 346-6300; (800) 968-1442; fax (517) 482-6248
Web: http://www.michbar.org/
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Michigan Chapter
None listed
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
Volunteer Lawyer Projects for Elderly
State Bar of Michigan
Elder Law and Advocacy Section
306 Townsend St.
Lansing, MI 48933-2083
(517) 346-6300
Senior Neighbors Program
Grand Rapids Bar Association
200 Monroe, N.W., Ste. 300
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 632-6000
Volunteer attorneys go to Grand Rapids area Senior Neighbor Centers once or twice a month to provide legal advice and services to the needy elderly. Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Bar Association Young Lawyers Section and the Lawyer Referral and Information Service.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
The University of Michigan School of Law
625 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215
(734) 764-1358
Michigan State University
Detroit College of Law
364 Law College Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
(517) 432-6800
Legal Clinics
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Sixty Plus Elder Law Clinic
P.O. Box 13038
Lansing, MI 48901
(517) 371-5140 X2628; fax (517) 334-5761
Web: http://www.cooley.edu.
Terrence F. Cavanaugh, Assoc. Professor
This clinic provides legal services for non-fee generating civil claims. Seven attorneys supervise 30-40 students in the clinic.
I. Attorney General's Office
Mike Cox, Attorney General
P.O. Box 30212
525 West Ottawa Street
Lansing, MI 48909-0212
(517) 373-1110
Web: http://www.ag.state.mi.us
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services
4095 Legacy Parkway, Suite 500
Lansing, MI 48911-1755
(517) 487-1755; (800) 288-5923; fax (517) 487-0827
Web: www.mpas.org
L. Other Projects
None listed
