Legal Resources
Cancer can sometime bring up a number of legal issues for caregivers and their loved ones to consider. We’re here to help you find the services and resources you need.
For assistance, please call (984) 974-8100 or visit the Mary Anne Long Patient and Family Resource Center on the ground floor of the N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC.
Parenting with Cancer Clinic
The mission of the Parenting with Cancer Clinic is to help patients with cancer who have minor children talk with their children openly and honestly about their illness, and to assist with cancer-related legal issues such as advance directives for health care, estate planning and guardianship.
The Parenting with Cancer Clinic is open to any person being treated for cancer at UNC Health who is caring for a child under the age of 18, regardless of prognosis or cancer type.
Additional Legal Resources
Advance Care Planning
You have the ability to make decisions regarding your medical care, even when you are too sick or injured, to make your wishes known. This is called Advance Care Planning and can include documents that help make your treatment preferences known to your family, friends, and medical providers.
- UNC Medical Center Advance Care Planning – Combined Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney used by UNC Hospitals
- North Carolina Advance Health Care Directives & Registry — The N.C. Secretary of State’s office provides resource, forms including Healthcare Power of Attorney, Living Wills, and a registry to file these forms
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal free legal services in civil matters to low-income people.
Cancer Legal Resource Center
The Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) provides free information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to cancer survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, employers, and others coping with cancer.
The Patient Legal Handbook
The Patient Legal Handbook covers work, medical leave of absence, health insurance, appealing denials, paying bills, and end of life decision making.
This handbook from the Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) is a staff favorite and is available as an English language handbook and Spanish language handbook.
Patient Advocate Foundation
The Patient Advocate Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that provides professional case management services to Americans with chronic, life-threatening and debilitating illnesses.
The organization’s managers serve as active liaisons between the patient and their insurer, employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters as they relate to their diagnosis. The Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation, assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of financial stability.
Understanding Legal Matters
The American Cancer Society has resources about legal rights that may come up during treatment. Learn more about Advance Directives and Informed Consent.