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Attorneys team to offer free wills at senior center

By David Bell
Today's News-Herald
Published Saturday, August 16, 2008 7:43 PM MST

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.

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Comments (9 comment(s))

Desertrat wrote on Aug 23, 2008 12:53 PM:

" already have one - give it a rest already! "

Bob wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:30 PM:

" I guess vote vote vote should do a little more research... They would find their numbers alot different. As most seniors don't have enough income to file income tax. In which case the numbers are not public record..... "

already have one wrote on Aug 17, 2008 4:13 PM:

" t seems hypocritical for Williams to attack Hlavac for free newstorials when Williams is getting his own. A hypocrite is not what we need on the bench- we already have one if those in Havasu court. "

vote vote vote wrote on Aug 17, 2008 1:59 PM:

" I guess bob does not know a vast majority of the wealth in this country is held by those 60 and over. Not only the most wealth but the most disposable income too.
Hlavac defends the truely needed every day.
Speaking of such, did Williams ask any of his competitors too help? Or just those suggested by his carpenter union in bullhead? "

Mauddip wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:53 AM:

" Free boilerplate legal help +
senior citizens +
news coverage =
votes in the primary election.

Pretty smart if you ask me. "

Bob wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:17 AM:

" Hey Juan, my guess is that your under 50 and have a job. In that case you can probley afford to hire an Attorney to do your will. Most seniors that I know are on a fixed income and struggle to make ends meet. You see Juan as you get older you start having medical issues and need prescriptions and so on. So much for the Golden Years... "

Juan Trique Pownee wrote on Aug 16, 2008 8:51 PM:

" are people over 50 only vulnerable to death? why is this not available to everyone reguardless of age? i might as well be like everyone else and yell descrimination! isn't that what everyone else yells when things are unjust to others?.......ok now here comes the bs from the senior crowd...what if this on for people under 50? then what...? "

bad but could be worse wrote on Aug 16, 2008 8:49 PM:

" This sounds like an idea cooked up by the Bullead 7. Typical Bullhead politics for the one they want on the Bench. Blatant electionering. Still he could have been accussed and admitted to living with a litigant as one candidate was as printed in this paper two years ago. The person identified in the Havasu news was John Taylor. "

Where wrote on Aug 16, 2008 7:59 PM:

" Where do you call if you want to help out which this great project?? "

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