Elder Issues Ireland – Probate Ireland

Paul Brennan is committed to standing up for the integrity and independence of elderly people.

It is unacceptable to find any old person being abused or advantage being taken by reason of infirmity.

What is elder abuse?

“a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person or violates their human and civil rights”. – see HERE

Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland was launched on Thursday 23 June 2011 at HSE headquarters Dublin 8

I am  a member of  Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland which is an independent national association of solicitors and barristers concerned with improving the availability and delivery of specialist legal advice to older and vulnerable people, their families and carers. It is associated with Solicitors for the Elderly founded in the UK in 1999.

Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland strives to build on its member’s expertise through training, setting good practice standards and through its information network.

All its members agree to follow its code of practice.

The SFEI website has links to resources which are of assistance to solicitors concerned with the care of elderly people.

Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland aims to create a positive public awareness of the legal issues specific to older or vulnerable people and of their fundamental right to that specialist legal knowledge.

Further infomation, membership critera and application for membership can be accessed  HERE

I encourage colleagues with an interest in this area of client care to consider membership of and training with this new association and to commit to supporting the integrity and independence of elderly people.

Your checklist on legal issues – I can help you in these areas if you wish

Have you made a will?

Is your will up to date reflecting your current wishes and circumstances?

Is it unaltered and stored in a safe place which is known to your executor or next of kin?

If your will is missing you need to arrange for the making of a new will as soon as possible

(in the meantime, and in case a copy might be available please confirm in writing to your executor/next of kin that you have not altered the original or destroyed it with the intention of cancelling it – please ensure you put the date on any such note)

Have you a list of your assets and account numbers kept in a safe place so that accounts will not be overlooked on your death?

Where are your deeds and personal papers?

Who will know where to find them?

Have you provided for the possibility that you might lose your memory?

To cover that possibility you need to consider having an Enduring Power of Attorney which gives a trusted person of your own choice the power to make legal decisions on your behalf if at some point you are unfit to look after matters yourself.

The Enduring Power only comes into effect when you lose your memory and there are procedures for safeguarding you against any premature activation of the power.