Volunteer!

The San Diego County Bar Association proudly partners with the Wills for Heroes Foundation to offer local attorneys the opportunity to give back to the Heroes who put their lives on the line every day protecting and serving our community.

These Heroes — firefighters, law enforcement, and paramedics, as well as COVID-19 healthcare professionals — selflessly give their all to keep us safe. Remarkably, many still don’t have a will, durable power of attorney, or advance health care directive.

By donating your services through this year’s Wills for Heroes program, you can make all the difference for our San Diego Heroes!

Typically, Wills for Heroes has been a one-day, in-person event. This year, however, the event is virtual — allowing us to match Heroes with attorneys for online meetings between May 4 and June 30. This gives you a greatly expanded opportunity to connect with and provide free services to these deserving Heroes.
 

Interested in volunteering?
Sign up to get notified of the next Wills For Heroes program.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What legal services do Heroes need from attorneys?

Free preparation of the following documents for first responders, healthcare providers* and their spouses/partners:

• Wills
• Durable Powers of Attorney for Property Management
• Advance Health Care Directives

*Healthcare providers are included in this year’s expansion of the program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How will I connect with my Hero clients?

Attorneys will be matched with a Hero for a virtual meeting to prepare the documents. (Estimate 30-60 minutes per client.) The Hero will be responsible for coordinating with the attorney to set a time for a phone call or video meeting between May 4 and June 30. Once you’ve prepared their documents, Heroes can then make arrangements to get them notarized.

What is required for an attorney to participate?

All of the following requirements must be met:

• Estate Planning experience
• Licensed to practice in California
• In good standing with CA State Bar
• Active member of the SDCBA
• Execute a Liability Waiver

Who qualifies as a “Hero”?

• First responders in the greater San Diego area including:

  • Firefighters
  • Paramedics
  • EMT/EMS
  • Police officers
  • Correction/Probation officers

• Licensed healthcare workers in the greater San Diego area (included in this year’s expansion of the program during the COVID-19 pandemic):

  • Doctors
  • RNs, LPNs, PAs, CNAs, or technicians
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Residents/interns/medical students
• Eligible participants may be full-time, part-time, reserve, volunteer, or retired, and may be affiliated with any federal, tribal state, county, town, city, local, township, parish, municipality, province, or other government unit or geographic entity.

Participants qualify if they have an estate and net worth valued at less than $500,000. Net worth consists of cash, personal property, stock and bonds, real estate (equity only), savings, cash value of life insurance policy, and retirement assets like a 401(k) or an IRA. Heroes who don’t qualify will be directed to the Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) program. If you are not yet an LRIS panelist, please click here to learn how to join LRIS and start receiving client referrals.

Questions? Contact Director of Programs & Events, Sarah Harris, at sharris[at]sdcba.org.