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.]
North Carolina
A. Senior Legal Hotline: Pro Bono Hotline of Pisgah Legal Services (800) 489-6144
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Lynne Berry
Legal Services Developer
NC Division of Aging & Adult Services
Department of Health and Human Services
2101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2101
(919) 733-8395; fax (919) 715- 0364
C. Long Term Care Ombudsman
Sharon Wilder
North Carolina Division on Aging
2101 Mail Service Ctr.
Raleigh, NC 27699-2101
(919) 733-8395; fax (919) 715-0868
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/
Southwestern N.C. Planning &
Economic Development Commission
PO Box 850
Bryson City, North Carolina 28713
(828) 488-9211
www.regiona.org
Serves Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain (EBCI)
Land-of-Sky Regional Council
25 Heritage Drive, Asheville NC 28806
(828) 251-6622
www.landofsky.org/aaa
Serves Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania
Isothermal Planning & Development Commission
111 West Court Street
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-2281
www.regionc.org
Serves Cleveland, Mcdowell, Polk and Rutherford
High Country Council of Governments
179 Greenway Road
PO Box 1820
(828) 265-5434
www.regiond.org
Serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey
Western Piedmont Council of Governments
736 4th St. SW
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 322-9191
www.wpcogaaa.org
Serves Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba
Centralina Council of Governments
1300 Baxter Street
Suite 450
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 372-2416 COG
http://www.centralina.org/aaadefault.htm
Serves Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union
Piedmont Triad Council of Governments
2216 West Meadowview Road; Suite 201
Greensboro, NC 27407-3480
(336) 294-4950
www.ptcog.org
Serves Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph and Rockingham
Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
(336) 761-2111; TDD (336) 761-2110
www.nwpcog.org
Serves Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin
Triangle J COG
(919) 549-0551
www.tjaaa.org
Serves Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange and Wake
Kerr Tar Regional COG
(252) 436-2040
Serves Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren
Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments
(252) 446-0411
www.ucpcog.org
Serves Halifax, Northampton, Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson
Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
(910) 323-4191
Serves Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson
Lumber River Council of Governments
(910) 618-5533
Serves Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland
Cape Fear Council of Governments
(910) 395-4553; (800) 218-6575
www.capefearcog.org
Serves Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender
Eastern Carolina Council of Governments
233 Middle St. 3rd Fl.
O'Marks Bldg.
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 638-3185; (800) 824-4648
www.eccog.org
Serves Carteret, Craven, Jones, Pamlico, Duplin, Greene, Lenoir, Onslow and Wayne
Mid-East Commission
1385 John Small Avenue
PO Box 1787
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 946-8043
www.mecaaa.org
Serves Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin and Pitt
Albemarle Commission
(252) 426-5753
Serves Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Dare, Washington, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington
E. Bar Committees/Sections
Elder Law Section
Ms. Wendy A. Craig, Chair
8000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 677-0561; fax (919) 876-1492
Web: http://www.ncbar.org/index.aspx
The Elder Law Section focuses on issues related to the elderly population, including Medicare and Medicaid. The section sponsors CLE programs and services; provides members with a substantive newsletter; and helps mold the association's legislative agenda for presentation to the N.C. General Assembly.
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- North Carolina Chapter
J. Gregory Wallace, Esq.
President, North Carolina NAELA Chapter
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 876-1400
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
Elder Law Unit
Onslow Senior Services
P.O. Box 982
Jacksonville, NC 28540
(910) 455-2747
Contact: Marge Zima
The council refers cases to a small panel of participating attorneys. Clients receive a one-hour free consultation and further services at a greatly reduced fee.
Social Security
Social Security Disability Panel
Legal Services of Lower Cape Fear, Inc.
First Union Bank Bldg.
201 N. Front St., Ste. 1002
P.O. Box 814
Wilmington, NC 28402
(910) 763-6207
The Social Security disability panel has 50 private attorney participants. A private attorney expert in Social Security law assists in training. An extensive training handbook has been developed.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Campbell University School of Law
P.O. Box 158
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(919) 893-1750
Wake Forest University School of Law
P.O. Box 7206
Reynolds Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
North Carolina Central University School of Law
1512 S. Alston Ave.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 530- 6333
Duke University School of Law
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 613- 7006
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Van Hecke-Wettach Hall
100 Ridge Rd.
CB 3380
Chapel Hill, NC 27599- 3380
(919) 962- 5106
Legal Clinics
Wake Forest University - Clinic for the Elderly
Sticht Center, Medical Center Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1207
(336) 713-8630; fax (336) 713-8632
Web: http://www.law.wfu.edu/eclinic
Kate Mewhinney, Clinical Professor and Managing Attorney
I. Attorney General's Office
Roy Cooper, Attorney General
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
(919) 716-6400
Web: www.ncdoj.com
The North Carolina Attorney General's office does not have a separate unit addressing elderly issues, but units including Citizens' Rights, Medicaid Investigation, Consumer Protection, and Medical Facilities conduct work on such matters.
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Client Assistance Program
North Carolina Division of Health and Human Services
2806 Mail Service Ctr.
Raleigh, NC 27699-2806
(919) 855-3600; (800) 215- 7227; fax ( 919) 715- 2456
Web: http://cap.state.nc.us
Email: kathy.brack@ncmail.net
Governors Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities
1314 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1314
(919) 733- 9250; (800) 821- 6922; fax (919) 733- 9173
Web: www.Gacpd.com
Email: allison.bowen@nc.net
K. Dispute Resolution
Institute of Government Public Dispute Resolution Program
CB #3330, Knapp Bldg.
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3330
(919) 962-5190; (919)962-0654
Web: http://ncinfo.iog.unc.edu/programs/dispute/index.html
Email: stephens@iogmail.iog.unc.edu
L. Other Projects
None listed
