Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the national observance of Older Americans Month. It is a time to honor older adults and recognize their contributions.

The 2026 theme is Champion Your Health. This theme focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as key parts of healthy aging. It also encourages older adults to advocate for themselves, access preventive care, and make informed decisions.

At Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, we know healthy aging is not only about medical care. Legal issues can also affect a person’s health, safety, and stability. For older Marylanders, problems with housing, debt, family law, records, or estate planning can create lasting stress.

That is why MVLS champions older adults through free civil legal help. Our work helps remove barriers to safe housing, financial security, family stability, and long-term independence.

Legal Help That Supports Healthy Aging

MVLS serves older adults across our seven civil legal areas. Estate planning and estate administration are often the clearest connections to aging. However, older adults may also face many other legal problems that disrupt daily life.

Many older Marylanders feel unnoticed or unheard when they try to advocate for themselves. In addition, city and state programs often move quickly and rely on technology. These systems can be hard to navigate, especially for people with limited resources.

As a result, older adults may struggle to protect their homes, access services, or resolve legal issues. MVLS helps clients move through these systems with dignity and support.

Protecting Homes, Titles, and Family Legacies

Through our estate planning, estate administration, and tangled title work, MVLS helps older adults protect their homes. This work also supports the transfer of intergenerational wealth.

Often, MVLS meets clients who have lived in their homes for years. They may have paid the mortgage, handled repairs, and covered property taxes. For all practical purposes, they are the homeowner.

However, their name may not be on the deed. Without clean title, they can face serious legal and financial risks.

Through the My Home, My Deed, My Legacy Project, MVLS helps remove these barriers. This work helps older adults protect their homes, preserve family assets, and age with greater stability.

Criminal Record Relief

Through criminal record relief, MVLS helps older adults move forward with greater opportunity and peace of mind. A person’s age should not limit their right to seek a clean record.

Old charges or convictions can still create barriers. For example, they may affect housing, employment, volunteering, or community involvement. By helping clients address eligible records, MVLS supports stability, dignity, and full participation in community life.

Consumer and Scam Prevention

Through our consumer and bankruptcy work, MVLS helps older adults navigate debt, collections, contracts, scams, and bankruptcy. These issues can be especially stressful for people living on limited incomes.

When consumer problems go unresolved, they can threaten financial security and peace of mind. Therefore, MVLS works with clients to protect limited resources and address legal challenges. This support gives older adults more stability as they age.

Family Law

Through our family law program, MVLS helps older adults who are parents, guardians, or caregivers. These clients may need support with custody, third-party guardianship, uncontested guardianship, or adoption.

Family law matters are often complex and emotional. However, legal help can provide safety, stability, and peace of mind. MVLS helps older adults protect their families and strengthen their communities.

Special Education

Through our special education program, MVLS helps older adults who are parents, guardians, or caregivers advocate for loved ones with disabilities. The special education process can feel overwhelming. It can be even harder for families facing systemic barriers and legal inequities.

MVLS connects eligible students with qualified attorneys, advocates, and consultants. Panel members may help with IEP meetings, school discipline matters, educational records, and placement concerns. As a result, families can better advocate for the services and support students need.

MVLS in the Community This Older Americans Month

This month, MVLS is proud to engage with the community around Older Americans Month and healthy aging.

We will join presentations with community associations and senior centers. In addition, we will highlight a community partner of the month who is a trailblazer in older adult advocacy. MVLS will also participate in the Mayor’s 4th Annual Older Adults event.

How You Can Get Involved

There are many ways to support MVLS during Older Americans Month.

You can take a pro bono case that supports an older adult. You can also contact our Outreach and Communications Manager, Chandler Walters, to schedule a community engagement opportunity. In addition, you can make a gift to support free civil legal services.

Every dollar helps remove barriers to justice for underrepresented Marylanders. Together, we can help older adults age with safety, dignity, and peace of mind.