Intakes by appt only
Mon,Tues,Thurs:
8:30am-4:30pm
Wed:
1:00pm-4:30pm
Fri:
8:30am-12:00pm

Senior Citizens Legal Services (SCLS) provides free legal services to elderly residents of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. The highest priority of the organization is to defend the right of the elderly to quality health care, social integration, to secure their persons and property, and to be free of discrimination on the basis of age or disability.

Client Eligibility
WHO DO WE SERVE?
Residents of either Santa Cruz or San Benito Counties may receive SCLS services. Services are available to persons who are at least 60 years of age or older. While eligibility does not depend on a clients income and assets, SCLS attempts to direct its limited resources towards seniors who have the greatest social and economic needs.
HOW IS A CASE HANDLED?
Seniors call the Main Office (831)426-8824 to make an appointment. Initial interviews are conducted by trained paralegals. Each week, paralegals and lawyers meet to discuss new cases. Most work is performed by the paralegal under the ongoing direction of an attorney. Cases involving litigation are handled by an attorney.
IS THERE ANY CHARGE FOR SERVICES?
There is no charge for legal services obtained at SCLS, except for court-ordered or administratively-approved fees under EAPP. However, donations are accepted from clients and other supporters who wish to contribute. Such contributions are critical to SCLSs continuing ability to provide legal assistance to the senior community. Donations are usually tax deductible. In addition, SCLS gratefully accepts bequests from clients and supporters.

We commonly see clients for the following issues:
Medicare and Medi-Cal Health insurance
Elder abuse
 Social Security and SSDI cases
 Age discrimination
Consumer problems
 Debt collection defense
 Mobile home problems
Tenant rights
 Nursing homes, residential care facilities and patient rights

What types of cases are not eligible?

We rarely accept cases involving the following issues:

Fee generating matters such as personal injury cases
Wills and/or probate
Tax problems
 Securities or investments
 Bankruptcy
 Criminal defense, including traffic offenses