Elder Law Issues in the Basic Real Property Course

The proverbial "graying of America" has given rise to a constant need to re-evaluate many core areas of substantive law to determine the degree to which they are intertwined with legal issues that are of great concern to senior citizens. This article focuses on the aspects of the basic real property course that intersect with the substantive area known as "Elder Law". Elder law is a diverse field that has grown geometrically in recent years as modern medicine continues to extend our life expectancy. Because we are all living longer elder law issues extend beyond mere concerns of property descent and distribution. While it is certainly true that any of us could pass away at any given moment, the elderly understandably think about death more often than others and are therefore more concerned about their property passing to the parties they choose. But as the elderly continue to press forward they are also anxious about their quality of life and the legal implications of having others assist in the daily legal issues surrounding acquisition, maintenance and transfers of property while they still have a strong body and mind