Wills for Heroes to be held on Rutgers-Camden campus
CAMDEN — Preparing wills is something most people don’t want to have to think about. But for the first responders who put their lives on the line every day to protect their communities, it becomes a necessary part of the job.The Rutgers School of Law–Camden is carrying out a national initiative to “protect those who protect us.” On Saturday Oct. 22, Rutgers–Camden’s Estates and Trusts Society will bring Wills for Heroes to campus to provide free will preparation and estate planning services to New Jersey’s firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and corrections officers.
The event will occur between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Clark Commons area of the Rutgers School of Law–Camden on the Rutgers–Camden campus.
“First responders protect their communities in often dangerous situations where they have the potential to risk their lives to protect ours,” says Lauren Parry, a third-year law student from Riverton and president of the Estates and Trusts Society. “Estate planning is one of those things that people tend to put off until it is too late or circumstances change through their lives. Wills for Heroes provides us with a way to thank them for their service to our communities.”
Wills for Heroes, a national foundation, was established after 9/11 to create legal documents for first responders free of charge. At Rutgers–Camden, law student volunteers will be assisted and trained by professional attorneys to provide the pro bono service.
“Many people are reluctant to produce wills, but these are people who put their lives on the line every day,” says Adam Rosen, a third-year Rutgers–Camden law student from Cherry Hill. “If anything should ever happen to them, this helps them make important decisions for their loved ones. It’s a safety net for these heroes.”
The student-run Estates and Trusts Society is partnering with the Camden County Bar Association Probate and Trust Committee and the law firm Ballard Spahr, LLP to sponsor the project and provide the free services.
“By working side-by-side with practicing attorneys, the law students will have a valuable learning experience and hopefully will be inspired by our volunteer attorneys to give freely of their time and wisdom when they become attorneys,” says Brenda Lee Eutsler, co-chair of the Camden County Bar Association’s Probate and Trust Committee and faculty advisor to Rutgers–Camden’s Estates and Trusts Society.
First responders interested in registering for Wills for Heroes should do so at wfh.clearstreamtech.com/scheduler. For more information, or to inquire about volunteering, call Eutsler at (856) 428-2266 or email wfh_NJ@ymail.com.
Software training begins at 9 a.m. for volunteer attorneys and at 10 a.m. for volunteer law students.
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Media Contact: Ed Moorhouse
(856) 225-6759
E-mail: ejmoor@camden.rutgers.edu