By Robert Clofine, CELA
compiled June, 2003 and updated January 2009

I think it was sometime in 1995 that I read an article in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorney's newsletter about some of the discussions taking place on the NAELA listserv. It was clear I was missing something, and I immediately got Internet access to tap in to those discussions. Once I got online, it became apparent that the Internet was going to allow me to practice law on a higher level. With the growth of the Internet, that opportunity is even better in 2009. In no particular order, here are some of the links I use on a regular basis to stay current and practice efficiently.

Pennsylvania's Electronic Bill Room
This site allows you to search and track Pennsylvania's pending legislation. The site got better when they added a link to all enacted legislation and another link where you can subscribe to email updates on bills of interest to you.

DPW Handbooks
The County Assistance Office caseworkers rely on various handbooks to guide them in processing benefit applications. While the site is somewhat of a work in progress, look for more complete versions of the handbook to make their way online as DPW starts making more information readily available to the public as a result of the new Open Records Law.

Pennsylvania Appellate Court Opinions
I check here daily to read the opinions issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts. You can also check the appellate court dockets.

Pennsylvania's Home Page
If you forget this link, just check your license plate for the URL. When you visit, you should create your own bookmarks for direct links to the Department of Public Welfare, Department of Aging, Department of Revenue, etc. My staff uses the Insurance Department site to find contact information for insurers who are no longer in business and my receptionist checks the Treasury Department's Unclaimed Property site for every new client.

Pennsylvania Bulletin Online
Same as the print version, but you get to see it sooner. The weekly issue is posted 9 am each Friday morning.

The Pennsylvania Code Online
Searchable and user-friendly. The medical assistance regulations are in Chapter 55.

The Pennsylvania Statutes
It took awhile, but the Pennsylvania statutes are finally online. The site doesn't have the friendliest interface and it isn't searchable, but it does provide free access to both the consolidated and unconsolidated Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Constitution.

Spousal Impoverishment Rules (42 USC 1396r-5)
This link gets you to the part of the federal Medicaid statute that Elder Law Attorneys refer to frequently.

Transfer Penalties (42 USC 1396p)
This link gets you to the part of the federal Medicaid statute dealing with the look back period and transfer penalties.

State Medicaid Manual
This link takes you to the official version State Medicaid Manual issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Once you get to the table of contents, click on "Chapter 3 Eligibility", open the "zip" file and you'll find the infamous Transmittal 64 starting at Section 3257. You can find an unofficial (but accurate) version of Transmittal 64 here.

lexisONE(sm) - RESOURCES for small law firms
You must register, but it's a freebie. This give-away from Lexis allows you to do case law searches for all state and federal courts.

Code of Federal Regulations
A searchable version of the CFR. Browse the nursing home, Medicaid and Medicare regulations at Title 42.

The Federal Register
Here's the link if you want to stay current with federal regulations. You can sign up to receive a free copy of the daily Federal Register Table of Contents via e-mail.

IRS Form SS-4 EIN
Perhaps the best thing the IRS has ever done to make our jobs easier. This site allows you fill-out the SS-4 online and instantly obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for an estate or trust. The site was closed after some early glitches. Hopefully, the IRS keeps it up and running.

Historical Stock Prices
My office uses this link to obtain stock and mutual fund values for death tax returns, Medicaid applications and Resource Assessments. Another site that provides historical quotes is Bigcharts. To find elusive CUSIPS for stocks and mutual funds, try Fidelity's site. Plug in the stock symbol or name and you'll get the CUSIP.

Kelley Blue Book
We use this site to obtain car values for death tax returns, Medicaid applications and Resource Assessments.

U.S. Savings Bonds Online
This site has the answers to all of your questions about savings bonds. While you are there, download the savings Bond Wizard. The program is a MUST. You can use it to value bonds for death tax returns, Medicaid applications and Resource Assessments.

Robert Clofine is a solo practitioner with offices in York. He is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation.