COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

The HBA Elder Law Committee

By Christopher B. Heald

Houston Bar Association's Elder Law committee was organized with the goal of serving the specific legal needs of less fortunate elderly Houstonians who would not otherwise be able to obtain legal services. The committee provides Houston area seniors with a variety of free legal services ranging from legal advice to will drafting through its site visitation program each year.

Participating lawyers volunteer to travel to and visit senior communities in the area, where they answer legal questions and provide information and resources to seniors in need. Each visit provides seniors in that community with the opportunity to ask questions and receive advice for their specific legal issues. When assistance beyond a simple consultation is needed, the participating lawyers will help the seniors to obtain legal counsel through either the Houston Volunteer lawyers Program or the Houston Lawyer Referral Service, depending on their particular situations.

The Elder Law Committee's most successful program is its yearly Will-a-Thon for low-income senior members of the community. During that program, participating attorneys gather at one of the regularly visited communities to meet with elderly citizens who could not otherwise afford to have their wills drafted. After the initial meetings with each of the seniors, the attorneys draft the wills, and a formal will signing ceremony is held for them the following month. The initial consultation for this year's Will-a-Thon will be April 19, and the will signing ceremony follows on May 17. Each year between 90 and 100 wills are drafted and executed for the seniors who participate in the event. If you know a senior citizen who might qualify for a free will, have them call 713-228-0735 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., February 28-April 8, for screening.

The Elder Law Committee further serves seniors in the community by publishing the Elder Law Handbook, a 54-page booklet that contains valuable information and resources for all seniors and their families, and provides them with detailed information regarding seniors' rights and the services available to them. The booklet is updated each year, and one of the Committee's 2011 goals is to include a new section specifically addressing the increasing number of fraudulent solicitations and scams aimed at seniors. It will inform seniors of the risks they face in today's online environment, and equip them with the knowledge they need to recognize fraudulent schemes and avoid becoming victims of them.

Darlene Payne Smith, the committee's co-chair, says she is "very honored to be a part of the committee," and enjoys the opportunity to serve seniors in need in Houston and its surrounding areas. The committee continues to be dedicated to assisting the less fortunate seniors of our community with their legal needs, and looks forward to continued success in 2011.."

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