The Aging Division of the Wyoming Department of Health distributes the Federal AoA funding for the Legal Services Developer program. The information on this web site and associated documents and templates are designed to provide information that may utilized when formulating business or personal plans. This page is intended to be an information resource only. IT CANNOT, NOR IS NOT INTENDED, TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. Due to the variances of many local, city, county and state laws, we recommend that you seek professional legal counseling before entering into any contract or agreement.
The Aging Division has contracted with Wyoming Legal Aid to provide services relating to the Legal Services Developer. Contact them Toll Free at 1-877-432-9955 or 307-432-0807.
What is a Legal Services Developer?
A Legal Services Developer is the individual in each state who is responsible for providing leadership in developing legal assistance programs for persons 60 years of age and older and plays a key role in assisting states in the development and the provision of a strong elder rights system. The Developer provides oversight of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III B legal assistance programs and assures that at-risk older people have access to the civil justice system. The activities of these legal programs and the legal services developer help in supporting those most vulnerable older adults enabling them to retain autonomy, remain in the community and assists in the prevention of many kinds of abuses against older adults.
What is legal assistance?
Under the Older Americans Act the term legal assistance means legal advice and representation provided by an attorney to older individuals with economic or social needs and includes…counseling or other appropriate assistance. Paralegals or legal assistants under the direct supervision of licensed attorneys can also provide assistance.
What is the legal assistance program under Title III B of the Older Americans Act OAA?
The role of the Title III B legal assistance program is to identify and serve the civil legal needs of those older adults who are most vulnerable due to social and/or economic circumstances, particularly those who are frail, isolated and/or minorities. This may be provided through legal information, legal community education and/or direct legal representation.
What is the role of a Legal Services Developer?
The Legal Services Developer ensures:
1. Leadership in securing and maintaining legal rights of older individuals;
2. Coordination of the provision of legal assistance;
3. Provision of technical assistance, training and other supportive functions to area agencies on aging, legal assistance providers, ombudsmen, and other persons as appropriate;
4. Promotion of financial management services for older individuals at risk of conservatorship
5. Assistance to older individuals in understanding their rights, exercising choices, benefiting from services and opportunities and maintaining the rights of older individuals at risk of guardianship; and
6. Improvement of the quality and quantity of legal services provided to older individuals
What types of legal services are provided?
Maintaining adequate income—Medicaid, other Public Benefits
Securing Health Care Benefits—Medicare, and other Medical Plans
Keeping safe and affordable housing—Foreclosure, Eviction, Utility shutoff
Preventing and finding relief from fraud, abuse, neglect and exploitation-home repair scams, revoking powers of attorney, restraining orders and other remedies
End of life care communications—Advance Directives, Do-Not-Resuscitate issues
Maintaining the rights of at-risk older persons—Guardianship and Conservatorship defense, Residents Rights protections
Wyoming State Bar Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyers Program
What is the Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyers Program?
The Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyers Program will try to match a client in need with an attorney who is willing to help at no cost. The volunteer lawyer will offer advice, legal services and representation to people who qualify.
Pro Bono Coordinator
Nancy Shore
4124 Laramie Street
PO Box 109
Cheyenne WY 82003
phone: 307-632-9061
fax: 307-632-3737
nshore@wyomingbar.org
Who is qualified to receive help?
Qualification for the program is based on need and the kind of legal problem that you have. The lawyers in this program are only able to help with:
· Hardship bankruptcy
· Guardianship of adults or children
· Assistance for nonprofit corporations
· Wills and power of attorney for deploying military personnel
· Wills and probate for those with limited assets
Resources
The Aging Division does not endorse any of these resources, but provides them here for information purposes.
Wyoming Lawyer Search http://www.wyominglawyersearch.com/
Wyoming Attorney General's Office (307) 777-7841 http://attorneygeneral.state.wy.us/
Wyoming State Statutes http://legisweb.state.wy.us/titles/statutes.htm
Wyoming Bar Association (307) 632-9061 http://wyomingbar.org/
Free Advice Web Site http://www.freeadvice.com/
Law Easy Web Site http://www.laweasy.com
Hoover Legal Forms http://www.hooverwebdesign.com/business/menu_legal.php
Give Away Legal Forms http://www.giveawaylegalforms.com
Find Forms Legal Forms http://www.findforms.com
Free Legal Forms http://www.freelegalforms.net
Legal Forms http://www.legalforms.name
Law Dictionary http://dictionary.law.com/
National Guardianship Association http://www.guardianship.org
Wyoming Guardianship Corporation (307) 635-8422
Wyoming Public Defender's Office (307) 777-7519 http://wyodefender.state.wy.us/contact_us.php
The Aging Division cannot provide you with legal advice.
This page was developed in order to meet the requirements of the Legal Services Developer Grant.