Elderly Legal Assistance Program

What is the Elderly Legal Assistance Program?

The Elderly Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) helps protect the rights of older adults in Georgia. It gives free legal help to a person who is 60 years old or older.

ELAP consists of a network of agencies that run the program and law firms that provide legal help. To receive legal help through ELAP, you should reach out to the local law firm that serves the county where you live. The program is funded by the Older Americans Act, which supports programs across the United States and its territories aimed at helping older adults live independently, healthily, and safely.  

Do I qualify for ELAP help?

You may qualify for help if all of these things are true:  

• You are aged 60 years or older  
• You live in Georgia
• Your legal problem is not a criminal case
• Your legal problem is a civil issue and one that ELAP handles (See "What kind of cases does ELAP take?")
• Your circumstances put your life or well-being at risk or in danger  

ELAP does not check your income to see if you qualify for services.    

What kind of cases does ELAP take?

The Older Americans Act requires ELAP to focus mainly on cases that involve:

• Public benefits
  • Examples: having your SNAP, Medicaid, or housing assistance denied or terminated  
• Income
  • Examples: not getting the right amount in your Social Security check or having money taken out of your check that should not be taken out; or
  • Problems with the representative payee who gets your Social Security money
• Health care  
  • Example: Medicare will not cover a medical bill
• Long-term care facilities
  • Example: Being discharged from a nursing home or a personal care home
• Consumer protection  
  • Example:  Unfair or dishonest sales or contracts
• Housing or utilities
  • Examples: problems with your mortgage or property taxes; problems with your landlord; or you cannot get your water turned back on, even though you paid all of your bills  
• Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
• Examples: the person you live with is abusing you, and you want to make them move out and stay away; or someone scammed or tricked you into putting your house in their name or they put the house in their name without your permission
• Age discrimination
  • Example: you were fired from your job because of your age
• Planning for your future if something happens to you
  • Example: signing an advance directive for health care or a durable power of attorney 

What kinds of legal problems does ELAP assist with?

The best way to find out if ELAP can help you is to call the local law firm that serves the county you live in listed below.

How do I get help from ELAP?

If you are sure that you only need help with your legal issue, you can contact the ELAP law firm in your area directly. Look for the county where you live in the list below and call the phone number provided.  

If you need help with more than just your legal issue, there are other services available through the Aging and Disability Resource Connection to help older adults and adults with disabilities. To find out what services may be available to you, call 866-552-4464 or visit aging.georgia.gov/adrc. 

Is ELAP free?

Yes. ELAP clients do not pay for legal services. The program pays local law firms to provide legal services. 

Can I pick my lawyer?

No. The program selects the local law firms that will provide legal services. The local law firm will pick the attorney for you. 

I tried to get help, but the law firm told me they could not take my case. Why?

ELAP is a small program and does not have the capacity to accept every case. Some of the most common reasons cases are not accepted are:

• The kind of legal problem you have is not one of the types of cases that ELAP is allowed to take. You can see examples of the kind of cases that ELAP takes in the "What kind of cases does ELAP take?" section above.
• Your case had a deadline that was too short. The local law firm could not arrange for your case to be handled before the deadline passed.
• The local law firm could not take more cases at the time you needed assistance.
• Your case could not be won.  
• Your problem was not a legal problem.   

Are there cases ELAP does not take?

Yes. ELAP does not take any criminal cases, or cases that carry a criminal penalty, such as restitution, fines, or imprisonment. There are some civil cases that ELAP cannot take. If you are still unsure whether ELAP can help you, call the local law firm that serves the county you live in listed below. 

What other legal help is available?

You can see a list of other legal resources here .

More about ELAP

ELAP's structure

The Division of Aging Services runs ELAP with the help of Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). The AAAs choose the local law firms that provide legal help to older adults. The AAAs also offer other services for older adults including but not limited to personal care assistance, transportation services, temporary breaks for caregivers, home-delivered meals, and more. Find your local AAA by visiting the AAA website at aging.georgia.gov/locations.