Get legal help
Read an easy English explanation of the Older Persons ACT Legal Service
The Older Persons ACT Legal Service (OPALS) is Legal Aid ACT’s specialist service for older people.
You can access support from OPALS if you are either:
- 65 years or over, or 50 years or older if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
- you are worried about someone who is an older person.
We are a free and confidential legal service. This means we won’t do anything without your consent, and we will not tell anyone you contacted us.
We are a flexible service. If you cannot travel, we can speak with you via telephone or meet with you at a preferred location.
What we help with
We can help with legal problems related to older people, including:
- elder abuse and your personal safety
- guardianship
- enduring powers of attorney
- financial arrangements with family members
- problems with adult children
- neighbourhood disputes
- consumer disputes or scams
- aged care or home care packages/Support at Home program (limited advice)
- wills and estates (limited advice).
We can help by:
- giving legal information and advice
- advocating for you with your family or other services
- writing letters on your behalf
- representing you in mediation or court in some cases
- referring you to other services.
What we do not help with
We don’t help with:
- drafting a will
- drafting an enduring power of attorney
- drafting Advance Care Directives.
We may be able to refer you to services that assist with these.
Contact us
Phone: 1800 353 374
- Monday to Thursdays 8.30am to 7pm
- Fridays 8.30am to 5pm
Email: opals@legalaidact.org.au
Resources
OPALS service pamphlets
Having a grandchild in your care
Decision-making, capacity and your rights
- ACT Capacity Toolkit: A Guide for Assessing Capacity is for you if you have concerns about the ability of an adult to make decisions for themselves.
The Capacity Guidelines: A Practical Guide for Legal Practitioners are for legal practitioners who need to ascertain whether a client has capacity for the decision being made.
- Decision making and your rights
Elder abuse and personal safety
- What is Elder Abuse?
- Plan for your safety: Are you experiencing violence or abuse?
- Are you worried about your personal safety?
- Staying safe at home
Resources for carers or workers
Looking after your assets
Further resources
Compass is a national online resource centre for information about issues affecting older people relating to elder abuse.
The website includes fact sheets, case studies, videos, checklists and may be helpful not only to older people but also to family members, friends and carers of the older person.
OPALS Diaries - digital editions
Download the digital version of the OPALS Diary: