Chattanooga-area emergency first responders are invited to connect with local attorneys for free estate planning, such as simple wills and powers of attorney. On Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. will host “Wills for Heroes” at the Chambliss Conference Center in Liberty Tower, 605 Chestnut St. in Chattanooga.
“Creating a will can seem like a daunting or complicated process, but it is one of the most important plans you can make for your family,” said Logan Threadgill, Chattanooga Bar Association Young Lawyer board member and Chambliss attorney.
“Legal matters like wills and healthcare powers of attorney can change the course of lives, so it’s imperative to have everything in order. We want to give back to the local heroes who are out there every day protecting us. At no cost to them, they can meet with counsel to work through the details of their estate and ensure their families are taken care of. Our hope is that it provides them some comfort to have these decisions complete on paper.”
The free estate planning event is sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the national Wills for Heroes Foundation.
“First responders provide safety for all of us, and they deserve recognition and support for the work they do,” said Judge Alex McVeagh, Hamilton County representative for the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. “We appreciate them as well as the young lawyers across Chattanooga who help make this happen.”
Basic estate planning will be provided to qualified first responders including active, retired and volunteer firefighters, police officers, paramedics, corrections and probation officers from federal, state, county, city and town departments and agencies. Responders must be Tennessee residents to qualify.
Appointments are required and can be made by contacting Logan Threadgill at wfh@chamblisslaw.com.
The Wills for Heroes program has been the primary public service project of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division since 2008. To date, the program has benefited thousands of first responders and their families in the state, officials said.