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 York
A. Senior Legal Hotline: (866) 382-7955
B. Legal Services Developer
William T. Graham, Assistant Counsel, LSD
New York State Office for the Aging
Two Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1251
(518) 474- 0388; (800) 342-9871; fax (518) 474- 0608
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Martha Haase
New York State Office for the Aging
Agency Bldg. 2
2 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1251
(518) 474-7329; (800) 342-9871, fax (518) 474-7761
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/
Albany County Department for the Aging
Albany County
Department for Aging
162 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 447-7179
www.albanycounty.com/departments/aging
Serves Albany
Broome County Office for the Aging
(607) 778-2411
www.bcstopdwi.com/community/seniornews
Serves Broome County
Allegany County Office for the Aging
17 Court Street
Belmont, NY 14813
(866) 268-9390; (585) 268-9390
www.alleganyco.com/default.asp?show=btn_ofa
Serves Allegany County
Cattaraugus County Department of Aging
(716) 373-8032
Serves Cattaraugus County
Cayuga County Office for the Aging
Cayuga County Office Building
160 Genesee Street, Basement
Auburn, New York 13021
(315) 253-1226
co.cayuga.ny.us/aging
Serves Cayuga County
Chautauqua County Office for the Aging
(716) 753-4471
Serves Chautauqua County
Chemung County Office for the Aging
425 Pennsylvania Ave.
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902-0588
(607) 737-5520
www.chemungcounty.com/bin/site/templates/default.asp?area_2=pages/aging/ofa-services
Serves Chemung County
Chenango Area Agency on Aging
(607) 337-1770
Serves Chenago
Clinton County Office for the Aging
(518) 565-4620
Serves Clinton County
Columbia County Office for the Aging
(518) 828-4258
Serves Columbia County
Cortland County Office for the Aging
(607) 753-5060
Serves Cortland County
Delaware County Office for the Aging
6 Court St.
Delhi, New York 13753
(607) 746-6333
www.co.delaware.ny.us/depts/ofa/ofa.htm
Serves Delaware County
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
27 High Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 486-2555
www.co.dutchess.ny.us/Countygov/departments/aging/agindex.htm
Serves Dutchess County
Erie County Dept. of Senior Services
(716) 858-8526
Serves Erie County
Essex County Office for the Aging
(518) 873-3695
Serves Essex County
Franklin County Office for the Aging
(518) 481-1526
Serves Franklin County
Fulton County Office for the Aging
(518) 736-5650
Serves Fulton County
Genesee County Office for the Aging
2 Bank Street
Batavia, NY 14020
(585) 343-1611
www.co.genesee.ny.us/frameset.html?/dpt/officeoftheaging/index.html&1
Serves Genesee County
Greene County Department for the Aging
(518) 943-5332
Serves Greene County
Herkimer County Office for the Aging
(315) 867-1121
Serves Herkimer County
Jefferson County Office for the Aging
250 Arsenal Street
Watertown, New York 13601
(315) 785-3191
Serves Jefferson County
Lewis County Office for the Aging [W]
5274 Outer Stowe St.
PO Box 408
Lowville, NY 13367
(315) 376-5313
lewiscountyny.net/ofa
Serves Lewis County
Livingston County Office for the Aging
(585) 243-7520
Serves Livingston County
Madison County Office for the Aging
(315) 697-5700
Serves Madison County
Monroe County Dept. of Human & Health Services
111 Westfall Road
Rochester, New York 14620
(585) 274-6280
www.monroecounty.gov/org30.asp?orgID=30&storytypeid=&storyID=&
Serves Monroe County
Montgomery County Office for the Aging
P.O. Box 52
380 Guy Park Avenue
Amsterdam, NY 12010
(518) 843-2300
www.mcofa.net
Serves Montgomery County
Nassau County Dept. of Senior Citizen Affairs
(516) 571-5814
Serves Nassau County
New York City Department for the Aging
Edwin Mendez-Santiago, Commissioner
2 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10007-1392
(212) 442-1000; (212) 442-1095
www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dfta/home.html
Serves New York City
Niagara County Office for the Aging
(716) 438-4020
Serves Niagara County
Oneida County Office for the Aging
(315) 798-5770
Serves Oneida County
Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth
John H. Mulroy Civic Center
13th Floor, 421 Montgomery St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 435-2362
www.ongov.net/Aging_and_Youth
Serves Onondaga County
Ontario County Office for the Aging
(585) 396-4040
Serves Ontario County
Orange County Office for the Aging
30 Matthews Street
Suite 201
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 291-2150
www.orangecountygov.com/?orgid=39&storyTypeID=&sid=&
Serves Orange County
Orleans County Office for the Aging
County Administration Building
14016 Route 31 West
Albion, NY 14411
(716) 589-3191
orleansny.com/aging.html
Serves Orleans County
Oswego County Office for the Aging
(315) 349-3484
Serves Oswego County
Otsego County Office for the Aging
(607) 547-4232
Serves Otsego
Putnam County Office for the Aging
(845) 225-1034
Serves Putman
Rensselaer County Department for the Aging
(518) 270-2730
Serves Rensselaer County
Rockland County Office for the Aging
(845) 364-2110
www.co.rockland.ny.us/Age/oa_services.htm
Serves Rockland County
St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging
80 State Highway 310; Suite 7
Canton NY 13617
(315) 386-4730
www.co.st-lawrence.ny.us/Office_For_the_Aging/SLCOOA.htm
Serves St. Lawrence County
St. Regis Mohawk Office for the Aging
(518) 358-2272
Serves St. Regis Mohawk
Saratoga County Office for the Aging
Saratoga County Office for the Aging
152 West High St.
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 884-4100
www.co.saratoga.ny.us/aindex.html
Serves Saratoga County
Schenectady County Office for the Aging
(518) 382-8481
Serves Schenectady County
Schoharie County Office for the Aging
(518) 234-4219
Serves Schoharie County
Schuyler County Office for the Aging
(607) 535-7108
Serves Schuyler County
Seneca County Office for the Aging
(315) 539-1765
Serves Seneca County
Seneca Nation of Indians
Office for the Aging
(716) 532-5778
Serves Seneca Nation of Indians
Steuben County Office for the Aging
3 East Pulteney Square
Bath, New York 14810
(607) 776-7813
www.steubencony.org/ofaindex.html
Serves Steuben County
Suffolk County Office for the Aging
H. Lee Dennison Building 3rd Floor
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0099
(631) 853-8200
www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp3.cfm?dept=22&id=278
Serves Suffolk County
Sullivan County Office for the Aging
(845) 794-3000
Serves Sullivan County
Tioga Opportunities, Inc.
Department of Aging Services
(607) 687-4222
www.tiogaopp.org/Aging/aging.htm
Serves Tioga
Tompkins County Office for the Aging
320 North Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-5482
www.tompkins-co.org/cofa
Serves Tompkins County
Ulster County Office for the Aging
400 Stockade Drive
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 340-3456
www.co.ulster.ny.us/aging
Serves Ulster County
Warren/Hamilton Counties Offices for the Aging
(518) 761-6347
Serves Warren and Hamilton Counties
Washington County Office for the Aging and Nutrition Services
(518) 746-2420
Serves Washington County
Wayne County Department of Aging and Youth
1519 Nye Rd., Suite 300
Lyons, NY 14489
(315) 946-5624
www.co.wayne.ny.us/Departments/AgeYouth/Aginginfo.htm
Serves Wayne County
Westchester County Department of Senior Programs & Services
9 South First Avenue, 10th Floor
Mount Vernon, New York 10550-3414
(914) 813-6400
www.co.westchester.ny.us/aging
Serves Westchester County
Wyoming County Office for the Aging
(585) 786-8833
Serves Wyoming County
Yates County Area Agency on Aging
5 Collins Ave.
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315) 536-5515
www.keukahealth.com/Offage.htm
Serves Yates County
E. Bar Committees/Sections
Elder Law Section
New York State Bar Association
Ami S. Longstreet, Chair
1 Elk St.
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 463- 3200; fax (518) 487-5517
Web: http://www.nysba.org/
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- New York Chapter
Vincent J. Russo, CELA
President, New York Chapter of NAELA
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 683-1717
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 Lawyers Projects for the Elderly
Committee for Senior Volunteer Lawyers
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
42 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 682-0670
Legal services are provided by private attorneys who have entered a contract to provide services with the Area Agency on Aging in the following counties: Allegheny, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, Oswego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Scholarie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Warren, Washington, Wyoming, and Yates.
Legal Aid Society of New York
=
Brooklyn Office for the Aging
1685 E. 15th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 645-3111
The Legal Aid Society of New York has developed a pro bono program for low-income elderly residents of Brooklyn and Staten Island using private attorneys and law students.
Volunteers of Legal Service, Inc.
99 Hudson St.
New York, NY 10013
(212) 966-4400
The service sponsors two programs: a pro bono wills project, in which seniors are referred to a panel of volunteer attorneys, and a project in which volunteer attorneys provide advice and assistance to low-income seniors at senior centers and housing complexes in their own communities.
Community Law Offices
Volunteer Division of the Legal Aid Society
230 E. 106th St.
New York, NY 10029
(212) 722-2000
Serves Upper Manhattan, Harlem, East Harlem, and Washington Heights.
H. Law School and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Albany Law School
Union University
80 New Scotland Ave.
Albany, NY 12208
(518) 445-2311
Brooklyn Law School
250 Joraleman St.
Brookland, NY 12201
(718) 625-2200; fax (718) 780- 0393
Cornell Law School
Myron Tylor Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-4901
(607) 255- 5141
University of New York
CUNY School of Law at Queens College
6521 Main St.
Flushing, NY 11367-1300
(718) 340- 4200
Fordhan Law School
140 West 62nd St., Rm. 122
New York, NY 10023
(212) 636) 6810; fax (212) 636- 7984
Hofstra University School of Law
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549-1000
(516) 463- 6600
New York School of Law
57 Worth St.
New York, NY 10013
(212) 431-2100
New York University School of Law
110 W. 3rd St.
New York, NY 10012-6060
Pace University School of Law
78 N. Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
(914) 422- 4210
St. Johns University School of Law
Jamaica, NY 11439
(718) 990- 6600
State University of New York
University at Buffalo Law School
John Lord O'Brian Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
College of Law
Syracuse University, Ste. 340
Syracuse, NY 13244
(315) 443- 1967; fax (315) 443- 9568
Touro College Law Center
300 Nassau Rd.
Huntington, NY 11743
(613) 421- 2244
Benjamin Cardozo School of Law
Yeshiva University
55 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 790- 0200
Legal Clinics
Touro College
Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center,
Elder Law Clinic
300 Nassau Rd.
Huntington, NY 11743
(631) 421-2244 x330; fax (631) 423-2040
Terrance F. Cavanaugh, Assoc. Professor
SUNY at Buffalo
Legal Services for the Elderly Clinic
507 O'Brian Hall
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260
(716) 645-2167; fax (716) 645-2900
Tony Szczygiel, Professor
St. John's University School of Law
Elder Law Clinic
8000 Utopia Pkwy.
Jamaica, NY 11439
(718)- 990-6248; fax (718)-990-6649
Ann Goldweber, Asst. Professor
of Clinical Education
Brooklyn Law School
Legal Services
Elder law Clinic
1 Boerum Pl., 3rd Fl.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 488-7448; fax (718) 488-9856
Olga Perez, Professor
Cardozo School of Law
Cardozo Bet Tzedek Legal Services
55 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 790-0240; fax (212) 790-0256
Toby Golick, Director
I. Attorney General's Office
Robert M. Morgenthau, Attorney General
One Hogan Place
New York, NY 10013
212-335-9000
Web: http://www.manhattanda.org/hp_flash.htm
The New York Attorney General's office does not have a separate unit addressing elderly issues. The office provides information, referral, and mediation of disputes. Community education is offered on topics such as telemarketing fraud, living trust scams, physician overcharge of Medicare beneficiaries, and door-to-door sales.
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
New York State Commission on Quality of Care & Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
401 State St.
Schenectady, NY 12305- 2397
(518) 388-2892; fax (518) 318-2890; (800) 624-4143
Web: www.cqc.state.ny.us
Email: marcel@cqc.state.ny.us
K. Dispute Resolution
New York State Forum on Conflict and Consensus, Inc.
244 Hudson Ave.
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 465-2500
Montefiore Medical Center
Lisa Hicks, Executive Director
111 E. 210th St.
Bronx, NY 10467-2490
(718) 920-6226
Nancy Dubler, Bioethics Consultant
In order for the Montefiore Medical Center to test the use of mediation in resolving bioethical disputes in an acute care setting, the center trained potential mediators. The trainees used mediation skills to resolve bioethical disputes and the mediators and the trainers, with the ABA Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly, held monthly formative evaluation sessions to assess project direction.
Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York
114 W. 47th St., Ste. 2200
New York, NY 10036
(212) 978-8590, fax: (212) 242-0944
The mission of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York is to advance the profession of family and divorce mediation in the New York City area: (1) by providing a forum for the education, development, and support of family mediators; and (2) by increasing the public awareness of the advantages of family and divorce mediation and promoting its use in resolving disputes.
Mediation Network of Syracuse
1940 Valley Dr.
Syracuse, NY 13207
(315) 492-1082
Web: http://www.syracusemediation.com
Mediation Council of Central New York Family Mediation Center
7000 Genesee St., Bldg. B
Fayetteville, NY 13066
(315) 446-5513; fax (315) 446-7324
Email: rsreid@syr.edu
New York State Dispute Resolution Association, Inc.
182-A Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 465-2500, fax: (518) 465-0840
Email: nysdra@nysdra.org
Web: http://www.nysdra.org
L. Other Projects
None listed
