COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

HBA Elder Law Committee

By DON D. FORD III

The Elder Law Committee of the Houston Bar Association was created in 1985 for the sole purpose of providing an interface between the Bar and the elderly citizens in the community. As a part of this purpose, the Committee provides tools and services to educate the community and meet the specific needs of the elderly in Houston and the surrounding areas.
Perhaps the most successful event that the Committee sponsors each year is the “Will-a-Thon.” This event, which has been held annually over the last few years, is an opportunity for those with limited resources to receive consultation with an elder law attorney and to receive wills and powers of attorney free of charge. The response to this program has grown so much in the relatively few years since it began that the Elder Law Committee is pleased to announce that they will conduct two Will-a-Thons this year instead of just one. Will-a-Thons will be held April 13 at Acres Home Multipurpose Center and April 16 at Bayland Community Center, with document drafting at both sites approximately two weeks later.
Sharon Stodghill, former chair of this Committee and an elder law attorney in Houston, notes the benefits of the annual Will-a-Thons. She says that the clients are truly appreciative of the efforts of the attorneys who give their time. Likewise, she points out that the program provides an excellent opportunity for younger lawyers needing some hands-on experience to gain invaluable experience, not only counseling the clients but also in drafting the documents. Stodghill first became involved with the Will-a-Thon as a part of the Aids Outreach Committee, and she is really pleased to see how successful this program has been for the elderly community.
In addition to the Will-a-Thons, the Elder Law Committee also publishes the Elder Law Handbook, which is a small booklet of valuable information that most seniors should know and have available to them. The Committee updates the book every year, and the publication is free to anyone who wants it.
The Elder Law Committee also provides volunteer attorneys who visit eight multipurpose senior centers, bimonthly, to work with senior citizens on an individual basis, answering legal questions, giving legal advice and identifying legal problems. If a more detailed consultation is necessary, the attorney will assist the senior in applying for services through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program.
The most recent addition to the Committee’s list of programs is the Elder Law Institute. The Institute is a continuing legal education course for attorneys who deal with elder law issues. The first Institute was held in 2004, and the Committee hopes to hold a similar institute every two years. The Institute is designed to provide practical information both for attorneys who routinely work in this field and those attorneys who find themselves helping a family member or friend with an elder law issue despite no particular expertise in the area.
The Elder Law Committee takes an aggressive approach to providing communication and information to the elderly community of Harris County. Their continued efforts provide a huge benefit both to the elderly and to those who help care for the elderly. We appreciate their hard work and look forward to their continued success in the future.

Don Ford is a name partner with Ford & Mathiason, L.L.P., an estate planning, guardianship and probate boutique firm in Houston. He is also a member of the editorial board for The Houston Lawyer.

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