The purpose of this LibGuide is to give the user a brief overview of the topic of Elder Law and to highlight some of the many resources available to researchers. This LibGuide is not all-inclusive, however, and should not be construed as giving legal advice.
Elder Law is defined as "[t]he field of law dealing with the elderly, including such issues as estate planning, retirement benefits, social security, age discrimination, and healthcare."
Definition from Black's Law Dictionary 595 (9th ed. 2009).
The number of American citizens who are age 65 or older has been increasing and those who reach that age are living longer. This is a burgeoning segment of America's population, with unique needs, including medical care, financial planning, and social support. There are many areas of law that touch upon Elder Law, such as Wills, Trusts and Estates, Health Law, Age Discrimination, and Social Services Administration just to name a few.
Using a research guide is a great way to start researching a new or unfamiliar topic. Research guides are not exhaustive lists of available material in a given field; instead they highlight prominent works available in the library's collection as well as provide examples of resources a user may find helpful. Research guides may also contain research tips and information about a specific library’s policies, and collection. The user should always check the date a research guide was last updated to insure finding current material.
Some other research guides to consider:
The Wheat Law Library at the University of Kansas has a LibGuide on Elder Law
Western New England School of Law Library has a LibGuide on Estate Planning and Elder Law
Touro Law Library has a LibGuide on Elder Law
You may also wish to speak to a reference librarian for more assistance.
