Estate Planning

Elder Law: A Growing Practice Area

By Hull & Hull LLP

The focus on Canada’s aging population, and the special needs of seniors, is becoming recognized in legal circles as a growing practice specialty: elder law. Elder law lawyers have a multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted practice that ranges from estates, to health law, to real estate. For example, an elder law lawyer may advise on “private care agreements” (where a child may provide care in exchange for equity in valuable real estate owned by a parent) or the benefits of long-term health insurance. 

As part of my own practice, I regularly advise elderly clients in all aspect of estate and trust litigation. Advising elderly clients requires specific knowledge about the various issues facing seniors. Such issues include elder abuse and exploitation, mental capacity and consent, and substitute decision making (whether by court-appointed guardianship or powers of attorney). 

There are various resources available for those looking to educate themselves on elder law issues. The fourth annual Canadian Conference on Elder Law will be held this year on November 13-15, 2008 in Vancouver. The conference will focus on such issues as capacity, support, public/private guardianship and law reform. For more information on the conference and for other information on elder law issues, see the Canadian Centre for Elder Law’s website at www.ccels.ca.

Have a great day!

Bianca La Neve

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on October 03, 2008 (boomark / email).