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Comprehensive Legal Information | Guardianships and Conservatorships
Wills, Living Wills, and Trusts
| Power of Attorney | Finding an Attorney
Think About Legal Issues

No matter what your age, everyone needs to understand the legal issues that can arise when someone’s health or disability affects their independence. Some of these issues are in the Health and Finance sections of this Web site.

Do not put off seeking legal advice about issues such as power of attorney, a living will, guardianship, conservatorship, a legal will, or trusts. Decision making about personal care and financial management for when you are incapacitated is vital for peace of mind and good care.

Think about the following questions for yourself or your family member:

  • What should I consider about substitute decision making and when should I make these plans?
    • When my child with a disability turns 17?
    • Before I retire?
    • Before I become incapacitated?
  • Have I talked with my support team about decisions addressed in a living will?
  • Should I establish special needs trusts and other trusts for family members in my legal will?
  • How will these legal decisions affect my family if I become incapacitated or when I am gone?
  • Who can help me with legal concerns?
  • What should I consider when hiring a lawyer?

Comprehensive Legal Information | Guardianships and Conservatorships
Wills, Living Wills, and Trusts
| Power of Attorney | Finding an Attorney
Comprehensive Legal Information

AARP
Information on legal issues, tips and resources

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs
Includes "Handbook for Older Iowans, A Legal Information and Resource Guide" (pdf, 78 pages)

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs
Includes "The Gift of Peace of Mind for Yourself, for Your Family, A Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Advance Directive Documents" (pdf, 22 pages)

Iowa Legal Aid
Fact sheets and questions and answers including guardianship, health care for elders, individual rights, nursing home and long-term care, public benefits, wills and life planning

Iowa State Bar Association
Information and forms for durable power of attorney for health care decisions and living wills; handbook on guardianship and conservatorship; information on joint tenancy, wills, living trusts and other legal topics

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Guardianships and Conservatorships

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs
Includes "Alternatives to Guardianship and Conservatorship for Adults in Iowa" (pdf, 15 pages), information on choosing the least restrictive alternative to keep autonomy and self-determination

Iowa Legal Aid
Definitions and information on guardianships and conservatorships including legal concerns

The Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council
Includes "Guardianship and Conservatorship in Iowa: Issues of Substitute Decision-Making"

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Wills, Living Wills, and Trusts

Iowa Legal Aid, Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Information and forms for durable power of attorney for health care decisions and living wills; information on wills, living trusts and other legal topics

MetLife
Information on being on executor

Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Loss of Capacity
By Thomas Day, director of the National Care Planning Council and chief spokesperson for the Utah Elder Care Planning Council

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Power of Attorney

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs
Includes "Power of Attorney Handbook," assistance for persons who have been appointed as an attorney-in-fact, those who are considering the need for a power of attorney, or those who have an interest in the subject (pdf, 10 pages)

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Finding an Attorney

Iowa Legal Aid, Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
A site for Iowans 60 and older to get information and advice about law issues

Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc.
Supporting persons with disabilities to secure their rights and full participation as citizens

Iowa State Bar Association, Attorney On-Line
Help to locate an attorney in your area willing to help with legal problems

Iowa State Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyers Project
Thousands of Iowa lawyers provide free legal help in civil cases to qualifying low-income Iowans

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Aging & Disability Resource Center
Funding for the development of this Web site was provided in part by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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