OUR MISSION
VAS is a non-profit organization which utilizes the skill, knowledge and education of volunteers
(55 and older) to help other seniors in understanding and pursuing their entitlements.

Legal Assistance | Homestead Exemption Assistance | Medicare/Insurance Counseling | Conservatorship | Guardian/Conservator Training Classes 

Legal Assistance

What types of legal assistance are available through VAS?

VAS currently has three types of legal assistance available to seniors age 55 and over.

1. Legal advice is available to seniors who may have a simple or quick question that can be answered by a VAS advising attorney.  A VAS staff member, or senior volunteer, can place a call to one of our advising attorneys who will attempt to answer the clients question over the phone. The advice is then relayed back to the senior client.

2. Private attorney referrals can be provided for seniors who have the resources available to pay for an attorney should they need one.  A senior client can obtain a list of three attorneys names from which they can choose one attorney to schedule an appointment with for a half hour of free consultation time.  VAS currently has a list of 11 attorneys specializing in everything from contracts and agreements to estate planning and wills.

3. Pro bono legal assistance is available for seniors who are at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines (for a single person this amount is $936 monthly, $1236 for a couple).  VAS sends referrals to the Nebraska State Bar Associations Volunteer Lawyer Project, located in Lincoln Nebraska.  Once a referral is made to the Volunteer Lawyer Project, they work to find a Nebraska attorney to assist the client free of charge.  This process takes a minimum of 30 days.  Once an attorney is found to represent the client, a letter is sent to them with the contact information of the attorney who will be assisting them.

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Homestead Exemption Assistance  

What is Homestead exemption?

Homestead exemption provides property tax relief for homeowners by exempting all or a portion of the valuation of their home from taxation.  Each year from April to June qualified individuals can apply for a homestead exemption using a two page application.

How do I qualify?

There are 5 categories of individuals that may qualify for a homestead exemption.

·         Qualified owner occupants age 65 and over

·         Veterans disabled by a non-service connected accident or illness

·         Disabled individuals

·         Veterans drawing compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs because of 100% disability that was service connected, or the un-remarried widow(er)

·         A person with a home that the value is substantially contributed to by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

How and where do I apply?

The Douglas county assessor’s office sends out homestead exemption applications to residents who have received an exemption in the past.  If a homeowner has not received an application in the past they can contact the assessor’s office for an application.  The number for the Douglas County Assessor’s office is 444-7185.  The Sarpy County Assessor’s office can be reached by dialing 593-2122. 

What if I need help?

VAS volunteers assist clients with filling out the homestead exemption application each year.  Volunteers make house calls for homebound clients and also assist clients who can come into the VAS office.  Each year VAS volunteers assist around 200 residents of Douglas County with the homestead exemption application.  

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Medicare/Insurance Counseling

VAS volunteers are trained by the Nebraska Department of Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program to provide “…outreach, counseling and referral for senior citizens and persons with disabilities” (NICA manual 2003).

Senior volunteers and VAS staff members maintain a 1-800 phone number that services Douglas, Dodge, Cass, Sarpy and Washington counties in Nebraska.  This phone number is printed on Medicare Summary Notices and can also be found listed on Medicare publications.  When Medicare beneficiaries, in one of the previously mentioned five counties, call this number they reach the VAS office in Omaha.  VAS volunteers and staff members are available to answer the beneficiaries’ questions and to assist them with insurance problems. 

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Conservatorships  

Conservators are persons who are court appointed to manage the finances of another individual who because of mental, health or age limitations is unable to do so themselves.  VAS maintains a volunteer conservator program through which court appointed volunteers manage the finances of a senior client who is unable to maintain their finances independently.  VAS accepts referrals from various agencies for seniors who are in need of assistance managing their finances and who will consent voluntarily to the appointment of a conservator.  A member of the VAS volunteer conservator committee interviews the potential client.  Findings gathered from the interview are then presented to a volunteer conservator committee, composed of VAS volunteers, who determine if the referral is appropriate and if it will be accepted.  If the referral is accepted, the committee will attempt to find a VAS conservator willing to take the new case.  If a volunteer accepts the case a VAS volunteer attorney will file the petition for conservatorship.  The only cost to the senior client is a minimal filing fee charged by the court and the premium for a bond, should the court require one.  All of the VAS conservators services are free of charge. 

Social workers and other medical professionals interested in making a referral to the VAS conservator program should contact the VAS office for the appropriate referral forms.

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Guardian/Conservator Training Classes

Definitions

Conservators are persons who are court appointed to manage the finances of another individual who because of mental, health or age limitations is unable to do so themselves.

Guardians are persons who are court appointed to manage the healthcare decisions and plan of care for another individual who because of mental, health or age limitations is unable to do so themselves.

History

In 1994 Douglas County Courts ruled that any person appointed as a guardian and/or conservator must be required to attend a training class that had been approved by the courts.  VAS had already been providing a Guardian/Conservator training class for several years when this occurred.  The Courts approved the curriculum being used by VAS and the organization took on the responsibility of training all court appointed guardians and conservators. 

Class Location

New Cassel Retirement Center

900 North 90th Street

In the auditorium

Registering for the Class

Pre-registration is required

Call the VAS office to register for the next available class 444-6617.

Cost

There is a $15.00 per person fee for the class.  VAS accepts this payment at the class and payments can be made by cash or check.

Forms

http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/Guardian/day-of-court-info.shtml

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