Find the right nursing home abuse lawyer for your family.
Tell us what happened in a short, confidential form. We will help you understand your options and, if your situation fits, connect you with a vetted attorney licensed in your state. It is free, and there is no obligation.
Start your free case review
Answer a few simple questions about what happened. It takes a couple of minutes, it is confidential, and there is no obligation. If your situation fits, we will connect you with a vetted nursing home abuse lawyer in your state.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your inquiry. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Your information is kept confidential. Read our privacy policy and disclaimer.
Three steps from question to qualified help.
Share a few details in the secure form. It takes a couple of minutes and stays confidential.
Our editorial team weighs what you describe against the law and the facts that matter in nursing home cases.
If it fits, we introduce you to a vetted attorney licensed in your state. You decide whether to move forward.
When to talk to a nursing home abuse lawyer.
If a resident was harmed and the facility may have fallen short of the care it was required to provide, it is worth a free review. You do not need to be certain. That is what the review is for.
Families often reach out after they notice one of these signs. Each links to a plain-language guide:
See all warning signs · Browse every case type · Abuse vs. neglect
The attorneys we connect you with are vetted, not advertised.
This is a matching service held to an editorial standard, not a pay-to-list directory. We look for attorneys who actually focus on these cases.
- Licensing and good standing in the state where your case belongs.
- Real concentration in nursing home, elder abuse, and neglect litigation.
- Relevant track record with cases like yours.
- Clear, contingency based fees explained up front.
Read our full vetting process · Vetting checklist · Attorney red flags · Questions to ask
The law these cases are built on.
Nursing home cases draw on a federal floor of resident protections and on state negligence, wrongful death, and elder abuse law. Filing deadlines are set by your state.
Congress set a national baseline in the Nursing Home Reform Act, part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, codified at 42 U.S.C. sections 1395i-3 and 1396r. It requires facilities that take Medicare or Medicaid to protect each resident and to keep them free from abuse, neglect, and unnecessary restraints. The detailed rules live in 42 C.F.R. Part 483.
Most claims still proceed under state law: negligence, medical negligence, wrongful death, and, in many states, a dedicated elder abuse statute. For example, California uses the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Welfare and Institutions Code section 15600 and following). Because deadlines vary, check your state early.
Federal regulations explained · Resident rights · Statute of limitations by state · State resources
A calmer first step than a search full of ads.
We explain the law in plain language and cite primary sources so you can verify anything we say.
We connect you with an attorney who fits your state and your situation, not whoever paid the most.
The review costs nothing, and you are never pressured to move forward.
We help families in all 50 states find attorneys licensed where their case belongs.
Where this information comes from.
We cite primary, public sources so you can verify anything we say.
The Nursing Home Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 1395i-3 and 1396r.
Our guideCornell LII ↗Requirements for long term care facilities, 42 C.F.R. Part 483.
Resident rightseCFR ↗Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County v. Talevski, 599 U.S. 166 (2023).
Justia ↗Private right of action under 42 U.S.C. section 1983.
Cornell LII ↗CMS inspection records and the five star quality ratings on Care Compare.
Medicare.gov ↗Statutes of limitations and special rules vary by state.
Statute of limitationsState resources
About the editor
Michael Mangione
Legal Research Editor · Founder, The Mangione Group, Inc.
For more than twelve years, Michael has worked inside contingency based law firms, building intake departments and studying how legal claims are screened and pursued. He brings that vantage point here, where every guide is researched against primary sources and reviewed under a published editorial standard. He is not a practicing attorney.
Finding a lawyer, answered.
Do I need a lawyer for a nursing home abuse or neglect case?
Many families do. These cases turn on medical records, federal and state rules, and tight filing deadlines. An attorney who focuses on nursing home cases can preserve evidence, read the chart, and value the claim. A free review is a low pressure way to learn whether your situation needs one. See who can file.
How much does a nursing home abuse lawyer cost?
Most nursing home abuse attorneys work on a contingency fee. That usually means no upfront cost and no fee unless they recover money for you, with the fee taken as an agreed percentage of the recovery. The initial case review through this site is always free. Learn more about fees and contingency agreements.
Is the case review really free, and is it confidential?
Yes. The case review is free, carries no obligation, and the details you share are kept confidential. You are never charged to tell us what happened or to be matched with an attorney.
How do you choose the attorneys you connect me with?
We look at licensing and good standing, real concentration in nursing home and elder abuse cases, relevant track record, and clear fee terms. We are an editorial and matching resource, not a paid directory. Read how we vet attorneys and the questions to ask before you hire.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Deadlines, called statutes of limitations, are set by each state and can be short. Some states also apply special rules for wrongful death or for claims against government run facilities. Because the clock may already be running, it is wise to ask early. See statute of limitations by state.
Who can file a nursing home claim?
Usually the resident, or a spouse, adult child, or legal representative acting for them. When a resident has died, a wrongful death or survival claim is typically brought by the estate or close family, depending on state law. See who can file a lawsuit.
What information should I have ready?
Helpful details include the facility name, the dates involved, what you saw or were told, and any records, photos, or names of staff. You do not need all of it to start. Our guide on evidence to gather walks through what matters most.
Are you a law firm?
No. Nursing Home Abuse Help is an independent editorial resource and attorney matching service. We do not provide legal advice, and submitting the form does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you choose to hire an attorney we introduce you to, that attorney, not this site, represents you. Read our editorial standards.
Your family deserves a clear answer.
Start with a free, no obligation case review. We will help you understand what happened and, if it fits, connect you with a qualified attorney licensed in your state.