Instructions
Attention: Before completing the Veterans Legal Services Clinic Intake Form, you must agree to the following Terms, Conditions, and Disclaimer.
Terms, Conditions, and Disclaimer
To be eligible to participate in this program:
Pro bono legal services are typically provided to senior citizens (regardless of income) and to individuals who meet certain income guidelines: annual income should not exceed $23,540.00 for a household of 1, $31,860.00 for a household of 2, $40,180.00 for a household of 3, $48,500.00 for a household of 4, and $56,820 for a household of 5.
However, individual circumstances such as expenses, debt, illness, and other life and financial hardships may warrant an exception. If you do not meet the income qualifications listed above, but believe you should be considered for participation in this program, you will be given an opportunity to explain why below.
Please provide the following information so that we can determine whether you are eligible to receive pro bono (free) legal services:
If you are (or will you be at the time of your appointment) 60 years or older, please select "I'm 60 years or older" as your response to the following two questions.
Brief Description
Writing a will is one of the single most important things that you can do to control who will receive your property after you die. A will lets you name your beneficiaries and specify what you are giving to each person. If you do not make a will, your property will be distributed to your legal heirs based on the laws of descent and distribution.
Married couples often leave their property to one another. However, you can designate as your beneficiaries your children, other family members, your partner, favorite charities or whomever. You may also leave specific articles of personal property to named individuals.
If you choose to create a will, you will also name an executor of your estate. This is a person who will pay your creditors from your estate and distribute your assets to your beneficiaries - the person who will see that your wishes as expressed in your will are carried out. Your executor is not personally responsible for your debt. If you have minor children you can also nominate a person to be the guardian of the children and their property.
You may create a separate list gifting specific items of personal property to named individuals.
Since you own a business, we cannot provide a will for you. Please continue to Sections 5 and 6 if you would like us to provide a durable power of attorney or an advance medical directive.
Information to Complete Your Will
Please choose the type of will that you desire.
You may only choose one option. If one of these options does not accurately describe the disposition you desire to make of your property, we are not able to provide you a will through this program. However, if you wish, we can provide you a durable power of attorney and an advance medical directive.
Executor of Your Estate
The Executor of your Estate is the person who handles collecting and distributing your property. Your executor will not held personally responsible for your debts.
Minor Children
A durable power of attorney authorizes someone that you appoint to conduct business on your behalf. The durable power of attorney does not terminate on your disability, incompetence, or incapacity, but it does terminate upon your death. You should only appoint someone that you trust and that you believe is able to carry out your wishes. The document authorizes the agent to sign his or her name to checks, to convey property and to do all acts that you could do.
A durable power of attorney does not authorize your agent to make health care decisions for you. To empower someone to make health care decisions on your behalf, please continue through to complete an advance medical directive.
An advance medical directive, sometimes called a “living will” or “medical power of attorney,” provides advice and direction to your physicians and family as to what your wishes are in the event you are unable to give medical direction as to future medical care. An advance medical directive also appoints an individual to act as your agent for health care decisions.
You are in charge of your medical decisions until you are unable to act. You should only name agents who are willing to carry out your wishes. The agent's power only becomes effective when/if you are unable to make your own medical decisions.
Optional Provision
"If at any time my attending physician should determine that I have a terminal condition where the application of life-prolonging procedure would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process, I direct that such procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care or to alleviate pain. In the absence of my ability to give directions regarding the use of such life-prolonging procedures, it is my intention that this declaration shall be honored by my family and physician as the final expression of my legal right to refuse medical or surgical treatment and accept the consequences of such refusal."
Each appointment will take approximately 45-60 minutes. Appointment slots will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis and we will do our best to schedule in accordance with your preferences.
On the day of your appointment please bring:
If you do not have these documents with you at the time of your appointment, we will need to reschedule your appointment to a time when you will be able to bring these materials with you.
We will notify you of the time and place of the next clinic. Thank you.