Getting Started

To conduct thorough research, you will need to synthesize information from a number of sources. The following pages will assist you in planning and executing your research strategy.

Legal Research Process Chart [PDF]
Laws & Regulations on Elder Law
Cases on Elder Law
Secondary Authority on Elder Law

Study Aids on Elder Law
Internet Resources on Elder Law
Getting Help

Introduction

Elder Law, in many respects, is an umbrella term that encompasses many different practice areas. Relevant practice areas include: estate, tax, retirement and financial planning, guardianships and conservatorships, living wills and trusts, advance medical directives, long-term care and health care, Medicare/Medicaid and other government benefits, and elder abuse and exploitation issues. This guide is intended to assist researchers in locating primary and secondary materials relating to elder law in the University of Iowa Law Library's collections.

Research Tips

When researching elder law issues, look both for resources specifically focused on the elderly and for resources devoted to specific practice areas.
On Westlaw and Lexis, use the topical practice area folders to locate relevant resources. Both services have a folder specifically for Elder Law but you should also check folders for related practice areas.
For each resource you search, try multiple searches with different phrases to catch variations in terms.
Search indexes such as the library catalogs (books) and the Index to Legal Periodicals and LegalTrac (legal articles) using controlled vocabulary subject terms. Searching with established subject headings helps insure that you do not miss relevant articles simply because you didn’t use the “right” term in your search. Potentially useful Subject Headings include:

Older people                  Trusts and Trustees
Aged                            Guardian and Ward
Abused elderly               Capacity and Disability
Elder Abuse                   Medical Care
Old Age Assistance         Advance Directives (Medical Care)
Social Security               Living Trusts
Medicare                       Power of Attorney
Medicaid                       Right to Die
Nursing Homes               Legal Assistance to Older People
Tax Planning                  Long-term Care Facilities
Estate Planning              Retirement Planning
Wills

Searching Google Scholar can help you identify medical, psychology, and social science-focused articles and can link you to full-text access through University of Iowa-licensed resources. While Google Scholar provides some access to legal resources, the Index to Legal Periodicals and LegalTrac provide better access to law-related journal articles.

Contact Us

Reference Desk

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Interlibrary Loan:
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Resource Symbol Key

	University of Iowa access
	University of Iowa College of Law access
	Password required; see a Reference Librarian
	CD-ROM resource; see a Reference Librarian
	Public Access
	Available in Print
	Available on Microform
	Westlaw/WestlawNext-Password Required
	Lexis-Password Required
	Bloomberg Law-Password Required