Senior Citizens Legal Services has three offices. The main office is in Santa Cruz with branch offices located in Watsonville and Hollister.

Hours:

Tuesday by appointment 1:00pm - 4:00pm  

Tuesday drop-ins 9:00am-9:30am

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.

Eligibility

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

Eligibility does not depend on a clients income and assets, but, SCLS attempts to direct its limited resources towards seniors who have the greatest social and economic needs.

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.

Cost:

There is no charge for legal services obtained at SCLS, except for court-ordered or administratively-approved fees under EAPP.

Donations are accepted from clients and other supporters who wish to contribute.

Donations are usually tax deductible. In addition, SCLS gratefully accepts bequests from clients and supporters.

 

Frequent Cases:

 Medicare and Medi-Cal Health insurance
 Elder abuse
 Social Security & SSI
 Age discrimination
 Consumer problems
 Debt collection defense
 Mobile home problems
Tenant rights
 Nursing homes, residential care facilities and patient rights


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

Mission Statement: 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.