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.]
New Jersey
A. Senior Legal Hotline: (888) 576-5529
B. Legal Services Developer
Edward Tetelman
Acting Public Guardian
Department of Health and Senior Services
Office of Public Guardian
P.O. Box 812
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 943-3519; fax (609) 943-3444
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
William Isele
Office of the Ombudsman for Institutional Elderly
P.O. Box 807
Trenton, NJ 08625-0807
(609) 943-4026; fax (609) 943- 3479
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 Web: http://www.lsc.gov/
Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services
(609) 645-7700 x 4700
Serves Atlantic
Bergen County Division of Senior Services
(201) 336-7418
Serves Bergen
Burlington County Office on Aging
(609) 265-5069
Serves Burlington
Camden County Division of Senior Services
(856) 858-3220
Serves Camden
Cape May County Department of Aging
(609) 886-2784
Serves Cape May
Cumberland County Office on Aging
(856) 453-2220; (856) 453-2221
Serves Cumberland
Essex County Division on Aging
(973) 395-8375
Serves Essex
Gloucester County Department on Aging
(856) 232-4646
Serves Gloucester
Hudson County Office on Aging
(201) 271-4320
Serves Hudson
Hunterdon County Office on Aging
(908) 788-1363; (908) 788-1362
Serves Hunterdon
Mercer County Office on Aging
(609) 989-6661; (609) 989-6662
Serves Mercer
Middlesex County Office on Aging
(732) 745-3295
Serves Middlesex
Monmouth County Office on Aging
(732) 431-7450
Serves Monmouth
Morris County Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans
(973) 285-6848
Serves Morris
Ocean County Office of Senior Services
(732) 929-2091
Serves Ocean
Passaic County Office on Aging
(973) 686-7752; (973) 686-7756
Serves Passaic
Salem County Office on Aging
(856)-935-7510 X 8446
Serves Salem
Somerset County Office on Aging
(908) 704-6346
Serves Somerset
Union County Division on Aging
(908) 527-4870; (908) 527-4872
Serves Union
Warren County Office on Aging
(908) 475-6591
Serves Warren
E. Bar Committees/Sections
New Jersey State Bar Association
Elder and Disability Law Section
Janet B. Lurie, Chair
New Jersey Law Center
One Constitution Square
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1520
(732) 249-5000; fax 732 249-2815
Web: http://www.njsba.com/
The section focuses on substantive areas of law affecting elderly people. The section has conducted CLE sessions on guardianship, "Living and Dying with Dignity," Law Day programs, a handbook for seniors, and speaking engagements before bar and community groups. The section revised Law Points for Senior Citizens, a State Bar Foundation primer on the laws affecting elderly persons.
Committee on the Elderly
Burlington County Bar Association
520 Stokes Rd.
P.O. Box 310
Medford, NJ 08055
(609) 953-5600
The committee operates a Senior Citizens Referral Panel in conjunction with the New Jersey Office on Aging. The committee has a public guardianship project, funded by the Office on Aging, to assist the New Jersey Mental Health Agency in adult guardianship proceedings.
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- New Jersey Chapter
Eugene Rosner, CELA
President, New Jersey Chapter of NAELA
Clark, NJ 07066
(732) 382-6070; fax (732) 382-7986
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
Special Panels for Elderly (Pro Bono/Reduced Fee)
Wills
Bergen County Bar Association Lawyer
Referral Service Pro Bono Program
61 Hudson St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 488-0032
Provides list to the Area Agency on Aging of attorneys who prepare wills for a reduced fee.
Volunteer Lawyers Projects for the Elderly
Hunterdon County Legal Services Corporation Pro Bono Program
123 Main St.
Flemington, NJ 08822
(908) 782-7979
Union County Legal Services Corporation
Volunteer Attorney Program
60 Prince St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07208
(908) 354-4340
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Rutgers University School of Law at Camden
217 N. 5th St.
Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 225-6375
Rutgers School of Law
Newark Center for Law and Justice
The State University of New Jersey
123 Washington St.
Newark, NJ 07102
Seton Hall Law School
One Newark Center
Newark, NJ 07102
(937) 642-8500; (888) 415-7271
Legal Clinics
Rutgers University School of Law at Camden
Rutgers Civil Practice Clinic - Elder Law Project
217 N. 5th St., Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 225-6568; fax (856) 225-6666
Web: http://www-camlaw.rutgers.edu/clinic/Elder%20Law.html
I. Attorney General's Office
Stuart Rabner, Attorney General
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 080
Trenton, NJ 08625-0080
Main Office:
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
8th Floor, West Wing
25 Market Street
Trenton, NJ 08625-0080
(609) 292-8740
Web: http://www.state.nj.us
The New Jersey 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, Insurance Fraud, Consumer Affairs, and Health and Human Services. The office provides advice and counsel, information and referral, and dispute mediation.
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Client Assistance Program
New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
210 S. Broad St., 3rd Fl.
Trenton, NJ 08608
(609) 633-9742; (800) 922-7233; fax (609) 777- 0187
Web: www.njpanda.org
Email: advoca@njpanda.org
K. Dispute Resolution
New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM)
203 Towne Center Dr.
Hillsborough, NJ 08876
(800) 981-4800 or (908) 359-1184, fax (908) 359-7619
Web: http://www.njapm.org
Email: info@njapm.org
L. Other Projects
None listed
