Legal

Power of attorney, estate planning, advance directives, and elder-law guidance.

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Advice
Filial Responsibility Laws: Can a Nursing Home Bill You for Your Parent's Care?
Most adult children don't know filial responsibility laws exist until a demand letter shows up. Twenty-nine states have statutes that can make you legally liable for a parent's nursing home costs. Here's when facilities actually use them and what to do if you get a bill.
June 16, 2026

Common questions about legal

What legal documents should every older adult have?: At minimum: durable power of attorney (financial), healthcare proxy (medical), advance directive (treatment wishes), HIPAA release (medical record access), and a will. A revocable living trust is worth considering for estates above the state probate threshold.
When do I need an elder-law attorney versus a general lawyer?: Whenever Medicaid planning, asset protection, or guardianship is involved. Elder-law attorneys specialize in the intersection of public benefits, taxes, and asset transfers - areas where general estate attorneys often lack the depth needed.

About legal

The legal documents that protect an older adult's wishes - durable power of attorney, healthcare proxy, advance directive, will, trust - are most useful when they're already in place before they're needed. Setting them up after a cognitive decline becomes much harder, sometimes impossible. Our legal library covers the documents every family should have on file, the difference between general and durable powers of attorney, the role of elder-law attorneys (and when DIY tools are fine versus when you need one), Medicaid planning, and the often-overlooked digital-asset planning (passwords, social media accounts, online financial logins).

We're not lawyers; we explain the categories so families can have informed conversations with the lawyer they hire.

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