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.]
Utah
A. Senior Legal Hotline: None Listed
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Jilenne Gunther
Legal Services Developer
Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services
Department of Human Services
120 N. 200 W., #325
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801) 538-4263; fax (801) 538-4395
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Kathleen Bailey
State Long-term Care Ombudsman
Department of Human Services
Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services
120 N. 200 W., Rm. 325
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801) 538-3924 fax (801) 538-4395
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/
Bear River Area Agency on Aging
170 North Main
Logan, UT 84321-4599
(435) 752-7242
www.utahagingservices.org/html/bearriver.html
Serves Box Elder, Cache and Rich
Weber Human Services
237 26th St., #320
Ogden, UT 84401-3610
(801) 625-3770
www.utahagingservices.org/html/weber.html
Serves Morgan and Weber
Salt Lake County Aging Services
2001 South State Street, S1500
Salt Lake City, Utah 84190-2300
(801) 468-2454
www.slcoagingservices.org
Serves Salt Lake County
Davis County Council on Aging
P.O. Box 618
Farmington, Utah 84025
(801) 451-3377
www.co.davis.ut.us/agingservices
Serves Davis County
Tooele County Division of Aging & Adult Services
59 E. Vine
Tooele, UT 84074
(435) 882-2870
www.co.tooele.ut.us/senior.htm
Serves Tooele County
Mountainland Dept. of Aging and Family Services
586 East 800 North
Orem, UT 84097-4146
(801) 229-3800
www.mountainland.org
Serves Summit, Wasatch and Utah
Six-County Area Agency on Aging
250 North Main
Richfield, UT 84401-3610
(435) 896-9222
www.sixcounty.com
Serves Wayne, Piute, Juab, Sanpete, Millard and Sevier Counties
Five-County Area Agency on Aging
1070 West 1600 South, Bldg. B
PO Box 1550, zip 84771
St. George, UT 84770
(435) 673-3548 (St. George)
(435) 586-2975 (Cedar City)
www.utahagingservices.org/html/fivecounty.html
Serves Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties
Uintah Basin Area Agency on Aging
855 East 200 North (112-3)
Roosevelt, UT 84066
(435) 722-4518M
www.utahagingservices.org/html/uintahbasin.html
Serves Uintah County
Southeastern Utah Area Agency on Aging
375 South Carbon Avenue
Technical Assistance Center
PO Drawer 1106
Price, UT 84501
(435) 637-4268
www.utahagingservices.org/html/southeastern.html
Serves Carbon, Emery and Grand
San Juan County Area Agency on Aging
1140 North Blue Mountain Road
Blanding, UT 84511
(435) 587-3225
www.sanjuancounty.org/aging.htm
Serves San Juan County
E. Bar Committees/Sections
Elizabeth S. Conley, Chair
Committee on Law and Aging
645 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 531-9077; fax (801)531-0660
Web: http://www.utahbar.org/
The Needs of the Elderly Committee, in conjunction with the Salt Lake County Aging Services, runs a pro bono clinic for senior citizens. Volunteer lawyers meet with seniors one-to-one at senior citizen centers around the county to discuss legal questions. The volunteer lawyers may not solicit clients through the clinic but may agree to handle cases on a pro bono basis. The Committee conducts continuing legal education trainings on law and aging issues and has presented sessions on guardianship matters to the state district court judges. The Committee is regularly involved in state legislative issues affecting seniors and was instrumental in passing the 1999 state legislation establishing the Office of Public Guardian. Committee members are currently involved in revising Utah's Personal Choice and Living Will Act in an attempt to improve the state's advance directives laws.
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Utah 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
The Senior Lawyer Volunteer Project
Margaret Billings, Director
254 W. 400 S., 2nd Fl.
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 328-8891; (800) 662-4245 (within Utah); fax (801) 328-8891
The Senior Lawyer Volunteer Project is a non-profit program housed in Utah Legal Services in Salt Lake County. The project utilizes retired volunteer attorneys to help persons with limited incomes and assets with estate planning and planning for incapacity services.
Needs of the Elderly Committee/Utah State Bar
Senior Legal Clinic Program in Salt Lake County
(801) 538-4641
Other Free Legal Clinics Throughout Utah
These clinics are open to anyone, regardless of age, and are free of charge. Many clinics require appointments while others accept walk-in clients. Volunteer lawyers are available to meet clients on an individual basis. It is always best to call the contact number before traveling to the clinic.
Box Elder Bar Night
YCC
2261 Adams St. in Ogden
(801) 394-9456 (*Appointments must be made prior to the clinic.)
Held the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month, starting at 5:00 pm. Serves Cache, Davis, Morgan, Rich, and Weber counties.
Box Elder County Legal Info Night
YWCA in Brigham City
435 E. 700 S.
Held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. The clinic is run on a first-come first-serve basis, no time limits and no need to call ahead for appointments.
Pro Se Clinic
Scott Matheson Courthouse
450 S. State St.
Salt Lake City, UT
(801)238-7804
Waine Riches, a volunteer lawyer, conducts a discussion on divorce and then provide free help with any Pro Se Packet that Utah Legal Services distributes, including guardianship. No appointments are necessary, but call ahead to confirm dates.
Seek Haven Legal Clinic
81 N. 300 E.
Moab, UT
(435) 259-2229
Held every Wednesday, starting at 1:00 pm. First-come first-served basis. Serving Emery, Grand, San Juan, and Wayne counties.
Talk to a Lawyer
Washington County Library
50 S. Main St.
St. George, UT
(435) 628-3688 (*Appointments are necessary.)
Conducted by the law firm of Snell and Jensen. Volunteer lawyers provide free 15-minute consultations every 3rd Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Serves Kane and Washington counties.
Thursday Night Clinic
Cedar City Library
136 W. Center St.
(435) 586-2571; (800) 662-1771 ext. 12
Held the first Thursday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. First-come, first-served basis. Serves Beaver, Garfield, Iron, and Piute counties
Tuesday Night Bar
Young Lawyers Division
Utah State Bar
645 S. 200 E.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 531-9077 (*Appointments must be made.)
Volunteer lawyers meet one-on-one with individuals for 30 minutes at no cost. The purpose of this program is to assist the public in determining their legal rights. All individuals are eligible regardless of income. Tuesday Night Bar is held four Tuesdays of each month between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. at the Utah Law and Justice Center in Salt Lake City. Serves Salt Lake County.
Tuesday Night Bar
Park City Miner's Hospital
1354 Park Ave.
Park City, UT
Held first Tuesday of every month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. No appointments necessary. Serves Dagget, Duchesne, Summit, and Wasatch counties.
Tuesday Night Bar
BYU Taylor Building
(801) 278-7759
The clinic is held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Serves Carbon, Duchesne, Every, Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch and Wayne counties.
There are several other volunteer lawyers programs throughout the state. They include the Street Law Project of the University of Utah College of Law and Utah Legal Services and LawHelp of the J. Reuben Clark Law School of Brigham Young University. Information about these programs changes regularly and is available from Utah Legal Services, the Utah State Bar, and the Legal Services Developer.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Brigham Young University
J. Reuben Clark Law School
P.O. Box 2800
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 378-2414; fax (801) 378-3595
Web: http://www.law2.byu.edu.law-school
University of Utah College of Law
332 S. 1400 E. Front
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0730
(801) 581-6833; fax (801) 581-6897
Web: http://www.law.utah.edu
Legal Clinic
Brigham Young University
Elder Law Seminar
249A JRCB,
Brigham Young University,
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 378-3947; fax (801) 378-5896
The clinic is called an Elder Law Seminar, and is located on the campus of Brigham Young University (BYU). Students receive one credit for this one semester course. The clinic drafts simple wills, medical directives, and provides legal advice and referrals. The clinic has one supervising attorney and 4-8 students per semester. Funding for the program is provided by BYU.
I. Attorney General's Office
Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General
P.O. Box 142320
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2320
(801) 538-9600
Web: http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agency
Disability Law Center
The Community Legal Center
205 North 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801) 924-3185; (800) 662-9080
fax (801) 363-1437
Web: http://www.disabilitylawcenter.org
K. Dispute Resolution
Utah Dispute Resolution
The Law and Justice Center
645 S. 200 E.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 532-4842; fax (801) 531-0660
L. Other Projects
Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake
225 S. 200 E., # 200
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 359-7359; fax (801) 359-7359
The Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake provides free legal services to income eligible clients with domestic relations and guardianship cases. It also provides free representation to any victim of domestic violence regardless of income. Domestic violence includes elder abuse cases. Domestic relations and domestic violence cases are limited to Salt Lake County, but guardianship cases may be statewide.
Multi-Cultural Legal Center
309 E. 100 S., #3
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 486-1183
The Multi Cultural Legal Center strives to assure that legal advocacy is accessible to racial and ethnic communities.
The Partnership to Improve End of Life Care in Utah is a coalition of health care providers, academics, hospice, community organizations, lawyers, and aging network agencies (see http://www.carefordying.org).
