Bar Association offers Free Wills for Heroes event to support veterans and first responders

November 8, 2024 - 07:17 PM - Berks Weekly

In honor of those who serve, the Berks County Bar Association is hosting a “Wills for Heroes” event to provide free estate planning services for veterans, police officers, volunteer firefighters, and other first responders. The event will take place on Saturday, November 16, beginning at 9 a.m. at Muhlenberg High School, 400 Sharp Avenue in Laureldale, PA.

Through this initiative, volunteer attorneys will help veterans and first responders with essential estate planning documents, including simple wills, as well as financial and healthcare powers of attorney. The goal of the program is to give these community heroes peace of mind by ensuring their wishes are documented.

The Wills for Heroes program is designed for individuals whose estates are valued at approximately $1 million or less. This includes calculating assets such as cash, personal property, stocks and bonds, real estate equity, savings, and cash value of any whole or universal life insurance policy — but not the payout amount of the policy itself.

Appointments are required for those interested in participating. Veterans, first responders, and their spouses who meet the eligibility criteria can sign up for a time slot on the Berks County Bar Association website at www.berksbar.org or by calling 610-375-4591 ext. 6.

This event offers a unique opportunity for veterans and emergency responders to receive guidance on estate planning from experienced legal professionals without any cost.