What problems can you help me with?

Our attorneys provide help on many legal problems and questions.  Some common areas include:  

  • MaineCare denials
  • elder abuse and financial exploitation
  • predatory lending
  • discharges from long-term care facilities (nursing homes)
  • guardianship/conservatorship defense
  • evictions

Here are some examples of questions our attorneys often answer.

  • Will I lose my home if I go to a nursing home?
  • What can I do if bill collectors are hassling me?
  • Can I change a contract that I've signed?
  • Someone has talked me into taking a loan out that I can't pay back. What should I do?
  • Do I need a Power of Attorney?
  • My spouse just died. What do I do?
  • I lost MaineCare. How can I get back on it?
  • Does Medicare cover long term care?
  • I got a letter from Social Security saying that they overpaid me. Do I have to pay it back?
  • I moved out of an apartment a month ago, and my landlord still hasn't returned my security deposit. How can I get it back?
  • I had a financial power of attorney and living will drawn up in another state. Are they good in Maine?

Even if we can't help you, we may be able to refer you to another legal resource, like Volunteer Lawyers Project or a private attorney at a reduced rate.

How do I get help from LSE?

If you are an older Mainer who needs legal help, call our Helpline at 1-800-750-5353. Our Helpline is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- Noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

When you call, you will talk to our intake paralegal. Our paralegal will ask you for some basic information about yourself and your legal problem.

One of our Helpline attorneys will call you back. If it is not an emergency, you will typically get a call back within three to five working days. It's very helpful to be ready with any important papers and other information when the lawyer calls.

If you are calling for an older person who needs legal help, we need their permission before we can talk with you about your legal questions. For more information about why we need their permission, please take a look at Understanding the Four C's of Elder Law Ethicsby the American Bar Association.   

What if I need more information?

You can learn more about common elder law issues in our Elder Rights Handbook. Our Web Links can help you find information on many topics that are important to older people.

If you can't find what you're looking for on our website, please call our Helpline and talk with one of our attorneys. They can point you in the right direction or help answer your question. We also have many printed publications on a variety of topics that we can mail to you.