August 19, 2021

By Thomas L. Lasley

Were you reluctant to schedule an appointment with Kansas Legal Services (KLS) during the pandemic?

Fear no more! KLS never ceased doing its site visits in Johnson County for the Area Agency on Aging program (AAA). We still maintain safe protocols against COVID-19 and our attorneys are fully vaccinated.

Now, let me refresh your memory about Kansas Legal Services, Inc. (KLS) and what it can do for seniors.

KLS is a statewide, non-profit law firm. Through our AAA program, we are devoted to providing free legal services to Kansans who are 60 years of age and older and are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

Our local office is located at 400 State Ave., Suite 1015, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 (913-621-0200). Our statewide headquarters are in Topeka. The KLS website at kansaslegalservices.org provides more information.

For convenience purposes for seniors, we make monthly, free “site visits” at the following Johnson County locations and schedules. Meetings, lasting 30 minutes each, take place at:

• Sunset Building: On the second Thursday of every other month, we are at the Kansas Area Agency on Aging, at its offices in the Johnson County facility, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 913-715-8860 for an appointment.
• Roeland Park Community Center: On the second Thursday of every other month, we are at the community center, 4850 Rosewood Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 913-826-3160 for an appointment.
• Matt Ross Community Center: On the third Wednesday of every month, we are at the community center, 8101 Marty St., Overland Park, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 913-826-2830 for an appointment.

During site visit meetings, we discuss their legal concerns, including advice on estate planning and avoiding probate along with preparation of simple estate planning documents, such as wills, a living will, a durable power of attorney for healthcare and financial purposes and a transfer on death deed.

We also discuss general legal issues involving adult abuse, healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, collections, guardianships and conservatorships, landlord/tenant disputes, simple real estate matters, bankruptcies and IRS issues.

Seniors can also apply for legal assistance either by phone (1-800-723-6953) at the KLS Central Intake office or by completing a KLS Application Online on the KLS website.

Thomas L. Lasley, an attorney for Kansas Legal Services, has more than 40 years of experience in the areas of elder law and estate planning.