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.]
Washington
A. Senior Legal Hotline: (888) 201-1012
CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral for Seniors)
Northwest Justice Project
401 2nd Ave. S., Ste. 407
Seattle, WA 98104
Web: http://www.nwjustice.org
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Patty McDonald
Aging and Disability Services Administration
State Unit on Aging
640 Woodland Square; Loop Lacey
P.O. Box 45600
Olympia, WA 98504-5600
(360) 725-2559; (800) 422-3263; fax (360) 438-8633
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Louise Ryan
Multi-Service Center
1200 South 336 Street
P.O. Box 23699
Federal Way ,WA 98093
(800) 422-1384; fax (253) 815-8173
Web: http://www.ltcop.org/index.htm
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/
Olympic Area Agency on Aging
(360) 379-5064
www.o3a.org
Serves Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Clallam and Pacific
Northwest Washington Area Agency on Aging
600 Lakeway Drive
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6749
www.nwrcwa.org
Serves Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom
Snohomish County Division of Aging and Long Term Care
3000 Rockefeller Ave.
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-7200
www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Human_Services/Divisions/LongTermCareAging
Serves Snohomish County
Aging and Disability, Seattle-King County
Citizens Service Bureau
600 4th Ave Fl 1
PO Box 94726
Seattle WA 98124-4726
(206) 684-0660; Elder Help Line (206) 448-3110
www.cityofseattle.net/humanservices/ads/default.htm
Serves City of Seattle and King County
Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care
3580 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98418-7915
(253) 798-7236
www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/altc/altc.htm
Serves Pierce County
Lewis/Mason/Thurston Area Agency on Aging
(360) 664-2168
Serves Lewis, Mason and Thurston
Southwest Washington Agency on Aging
(360) -694-6577
Serves Clark, Klickitat, Skamania, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum
Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington
(509) 886-0700
www.aaccw.org
Serves Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan
Southeast WA Aging and Long Term Care
(509) 965-0105; (800) 572-7354
www.altcwashington.com
Serves Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Walla Walla and Yakima
Yakima Nation Area Agency on Aging
(509) 865-5121 ext. 4484
Serves Yakima Nation
Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington
1222 N. Post
Spokane, WA 99201-2096
(509) 458-2509
www.altcew.org
Serves Spokane, Tri-County area (Stevens, Pend Oreille, and Ferry)
Colville Indian Area Agency on Aging
(509) 634-2759
Serves Colville Indian
Kitsap County Division of Aging and Long Term Care
(360) 337-7068
Serves Kitsap
E. Bar Committees/Sections
Barbara Byram, Chair
Elder Law Section
Washington State Bar Association
2101 4th Ave., Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98121-2330
(206) 443-9722; (800) 945-9722; fax (206) 727-8320
Web: http://www.wsba.org/default.htm
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Washington Chapter
Beth A. McDaniel, Esq.
President of NAELA's Washington Chapter
Renton, WA 98055
(425) 227-8700
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 Attorney Programs: More than 4,000 attorneys provide free legal services for low-income clients through Washington's network of 24 Volunteer Attorney Programs. Types of cases commonly handled by attorneys participating in these programs include housing, protection of financial resources, consumer protection, and family law.
Benton-Franklin Legal Aid Society
10 N. Washington, Ste. 4
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 582-5378
Volunteer legal representation, dissolution clinics, and parenting plan assistance for low-income persons, in conjunction with the Volunteer Center and the local bar.
Blue Mountain Action Council
34 Boyer Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 529-4980
Volunteer lawyers provide direct representation, family law clinics, and pro se document review to low-income persons.
Chelan-Douglas Community Action Legal Aid
620 Lewis St.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 662-6156
Legal advice, representation, and pro se dissolution assistance to low-income persons in conjunction with the Community Action Agency and the local bar.
Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers
P.O. Box 909
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 417-0818
Volunteer attorneys provide advice and representation to low-income persons.
Clark County Volunteer Lawyers
406 W. 12th St.
Vancouver, WA 98660
(206) 695-5975
Volunteer lawyers from the local bar provide legal representation, advice, bankruptcy clinics, and dissolution classes to low-income persons.
Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid
1526 Commerce Ave.
Longview, WA 98632
(360) 425-3430
Volunteer attorneys provide advice, clinics, and representation to low-income persons.
Eastside Legal Assistance Program
P.O. Box 7165
Bellevue, WA 98008
(425) 747-7274
Legal advice, dissolution workshops, and representation to low-income persons.
Grays Harbor Bar Volunteer Legal Aid Service
P.O. Box 1827
Aberdeen, WA 98520
(360) 533-3652
Legal advice, representation, and a dissolution clinic for low-income residents.
Volunteer Lawyer Program of Jefferson County
5732 Cape George Rd.
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 379-0278
Monthly Do-It-Yourself Divorce Workshops for low-income persons.
King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinics
900 4th Ave.
Ste. 600
Seattle, WA 98164-1005
(206) 624-9365
Volunteer attorneys provide 30 minutes of free legal consultation. Specialty clinics include an elder law, Spanish, and immigration clinic.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Gonzaga University
School of Law
721 N. Cincinnati St.
Spokane, WA 99220
Web: http://law.gonzaga.edu
Seattle University School of Law
Sullivan Hall
900 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122-4340
(206) 398-4000
Web: http://www.law.seattleu.edu
University of Washington
School of Law
1100 N.E. Campus Pkwy.
Seattle, WA 98105-6617
(206) 543-4550
Web: http://www.law.washington.edu/
Legal Clinics
Gonzaga Law School -
University Legal Assistance
P.O. Box 3528
Spokane, WA 99220
(509) 323-3718; fax (509) 323-5805
The clinic accepts the following types of cases: abuse/exploitation, public entitlements, housing, nursing homes, and guardianships.
I. Attorney General's Office
Rob McKenna, Attorney General
P.O. Box 40100
1125 Washington St., S.E.
Olympia, WA 98504-0100
(360) 753-6200
Web: http://www.atg.wa.gov/
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Client Assistance Program
2531 Rainier Ave., South
Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 721-5999; (800) 544-2121; fax (206) 721-4537
Email: capseattle@att.net
Web: www.capseattle.org
Washington P&A System
315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 957-1521; (800) 562-2702
TDD (800) 905-0209; fax (206) 957-0729
Email: wpas@wpas-rights.org
Web: www.wpas-rights.org
K. Dispute Resolution
Washington Mediation Association
1122 E. Pike St., PMB #1095
Seattle, WA 98122-3934
(206) 262-0600
Email: ruffo@olympus.net
L. Other Projects
Access to Justice Board
2101 4th Ave., Ste. 400
Seattle, WA 98121-2330
(206) 727-8262; fax (206) 727-8320
Web: http://www.waaccesstojustice.org/legasst
The Access to Justice Board was established by the Supreme Court of Washington, and is administered by the Washington State Bar Association.
