Make Sure the Elderly People in Your Life are Legaly Represented

For seniors, there are a number of legal issues which are incredibly important. Whether for yourself of for somebody you love, you should be conscious of what these problems are in order to understand your rights. A lawyer like Gary Lightman may help you understand all of the legal components of these matters.

Some of the laws affecting the elderly involve the independence of seniors. The legal right to care for yourself is one of the most basic of human desires, but it is something that must be balanced with the need of some individuals to be under the care of others. Other items that are important to seniors are financial management as well as grandparents' rights.

Capacity refers back to the ability to understand relevant information and then make decisions which are vital to meet basic, daily needs. Adults with capacity could make decisions that affect themselves and their property. By law, adults are assumed to have capacity unless a judge makes a decision otherwise. In such instances, lawyers like Gary Lightman are crucial.

States have different requirements for what this means to have capacity. Sometimes when a person has a particular medical problem that affects their cognitive functioning, this capacity is waived. Knowing what the laws are and how to make sure that you are being treated fairly is part of what a lawyer's job is.

Should you or a loved one need a legal guardian, a lawyer like Gary Lightman can help with this as well. A guardian may be appointed when someone cannot make decisions for themselves and must depend on a judge-appointed guardian (often a child or another family member) to make these decision about health and financial well-being.

Another important issue to seniors is grandparents' rights. Before 1965, common law denied grandparents the right to visit grandchildren if a child objected, but since that time, all 50 states have legislation on the books enabling grandparents to petition the courts for visitation rights.

Something else that many seniors are faced with is fraud that is specifically targeted at older persons. Many scammers both on and offline decide to make senior citizens the target of their activities such that many states have enacted stricter laws that attempt to prevent this kind of thing. Gary Lightman and lawyers like him can help with the litigation for these people.

If you need assistance with your legal rights as a senior citizen, then make sure to meet with a lawyer who is an expert in elder law. Lawyers like these will be on your side and assist you to claim your rights.

DJ Willis - About Author:
While some lawyers only work in one area, Gary P. Lightman has built his practice around a large number of different but related legal areas. Gary Lightman relies on his strong educational background to stay up-to-date with the changes and regulations in these areas, and can use his history of court experience to work toward the most ideal resolutions in:

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