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These principles guide AARP’s policies on personal and legal rights and protections in the legal system.

Congress should reauthorize the Elder Justice Act (EJA). It should fully fund the EJA and other programs that address elder abuse.

Policymakers should devise Silver Alert programs to alert the public to missing older adults with appropriate protections and limitations.

States should simplify estate planning. This includes allowing the use of electronic wills or trusts to govern the distribution of property at death.

States should expand laws on durable powers of attorney to:

States should codify, simplify, and clarify trust laws. They should model them on the Uniform Trust Code.

Policymakers should encourage advance care planning. This should include the creation of advance directives.

Policymakers should simplify, expedite, and minimize the cost of probate.

Federal policymakers should expand programs to improve guardianship. This should include monitoring programs.

Policymakers should protect and enforce the fundamental right of all people to be free from discrimination. They should enact and enforce civil rights statutes.