How to Choose an Elder-Law Attorney
Several of our guides tell you to “talk to an elder-law attorney.” Here’s how to actually find and vet one.
What “elder law” actually covers
Elder law typically covers Medi-Cal and long-term-care planning, estate planning, conservatorship, guardianship, and sometimes elder abuse matters. It overlaps with general estate planning but goes further — a general estate-planning attorney may not have deep experience with Medi-Cal-specific rules like asset limits, look-back periods, or estate recovery.
Credentials worth checking
- CalBar Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law — this designation means the attorney has met the California State Bar’s additional experience, education, and testing requirements in this specific area. Verify it directly through the State Bar’s specialist search.
- NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) membership — another signal the attorney focuses on elder law specifically, though membership alone isn’t a certification.
Questions to ask before hiring
- Flat fee or hourly — and what’s included?
- Specific experience with Medi-Cal long-term-care planning, not just general estate planning.
- Who at the firm will actually handle your matter — the attorney you meet, or someone else?
Free and low-cost alternatives
For families who can’t afford a private attorney, Legal Services of Northern California, Auburn office provides free or low-cost legal aid covering public-benefits and some estate-planning matters for income-eligible Placer County residents. Local: (530) 823-7560; toll-free: (800) 660-6107; 190 Reamer Street, Auburn, CA 95603.
CANHR (California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform) is also worth knowing about — not a law firm, but a free, knowledgeable consumer information resource for nursing-home and Medi-Cal-adjacent questions: (800) 474-1116, canhr.org.
Related reading
PlacerCare Directory does not currently list or endorse specific attorneys. This is general information, not legal advice.