Attorneys team to offer free wills at senior center

Attorneys from law firms in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City are teaming to offer free estate planning at the local Mohave County Senior Center.

“My dad passed away about three months ago and I discovered he didn’t have a will,” said Rick Williams with the Bullhead City firm Kelley, Moss and Williams. “I volunteer with the Wills for Heroes program (to provide free estate planning for first responders) and started to talk with my partner Steve Moss, and Brad Bixler and Doug Hasslen with the Senior Center about what we could do for seniors.”

What’s being done is to have four to six attorneys at the center one day in September to help Lake Havasu City seniors complete wills, living wills, durable power of attorney and health care power of attorney.

In addition to the attorneys, notaries public and witnesses will be on hand to complete the documents that day. Williams said he estimates seniors can expect to spend about 30 minutes to complete the legal documents.

The service will be free to all seniors 50 and older, who are residents of Lake Havasu City and the surrounding area, similar to an income tax preparation service offered at the Senior Center each year.

“We have people lined up waiting to get in for that,” said Senior Center volunteer Bruce Hinman. “We also have Social Security aid to seniors each Monday and (attorneys from) the Arizona Attorney General’s Office comes in once each month.”

Before the first session is started, there’s talking of expanding the service to multiple dates throughout the year.

“I’ve had a number of comments on the will service and people wanting help,” said Hasslen. “I suspect it’s going to be very popular.”

Eligibility is limited to seniors with assets of $750,000 or less. Complex estate planning issues may be referred to private counsel.

Williams said in addition to attorneys from his firm, Jay Bidwell, of Wachtel, Biehn & Malm, has volunteered to assist, and he’s waiting on confirmation of others.

Seniors that do not drive will be able to access the Senior Center via Havasu Area Transit. The local bus service has a stop at the Senior Center, and curb-to-curb service is available to pre-qualified residents 65 and older, with 24-hour advance reservation.

Sign-ups for an appointment and information forms will be available at the Senior Center, 450 S. Acoma Blvd., starting Sept. 2. The service will take place Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.