Provides free legal assistance to Santa Clara County Seniors.

Office Hours: M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

SALA is a non profit elder law office whose mission is to support older persons in their efforts to live safely, independently, non-institutionalized, and with dignity. Established in 1973, SALA provides free legal services and community education to Santa Clara County residents who are age 60 or older. There is no income eligibility qualification to use SALAs services.

 SALAs attorney staff provides a range of legal services from simple advice/referrals to comprehensive legal representation. SALAs caseload consists of legal matters that private attorneys typically do not handle and that have a great impact on elders most in need in our community.

Services
PUBLIC BENEFITS:  Social Security and SSI (except disability cases); Medicare and Medi-Cal; and In Home Support Services.

LONG TERM CARE:  Nursing Home and Residential Care issues; Alternatives to Institutionalization.

ELDER ABUSE:  Restraining/Protective Orders for Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence or Civil Harassment Restraining Orders; Lodger Statute Evictions; Revocation of Powers of Attorney (for fiduciary abuse).

HOUSING:  Landlord-Tenant; Subsidized/Senior Housing; Mobile Home Residency problems.

CONSUMER:  Medicare HMO or Supplemental Insurance disputes; Long-Term Care Insurance problems.

INCAPACITY PLANNING:  Advance Health Care Directives; Health Care Powers of Attorney; Uniform Stautory Form Powers of Attorney (for financial management).

PROBATE ALTERNATIVES:  Death of Joint Tenant Affidavits; Small Estate Affidavits (valued at $100,000 or less).

SIMPLE WILLS:  Attorney-drafted wills (available (through SALAs No Fee Wills Panel; California Statutory Wills or holographic wills for elders with modest assets

SALA's Self-Help Packets
SALA offers "self-help" packets to clients in the following areas:

Lodger Statute Eviction
Affidavit - Death of Joint Tenant
Small Estate Affidavit (for estates valued at $100,000 or less)
Uniform Statutory Form Power of Attorney
Revocation of Power of Attorney
Holographic Will
Statutory Will (for elders with very modest estates)
Clients wishing to obtain a self-help packet must go through the regular appointment process so that an attorney can assess whether the packet is appropriate for their particular case.