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Local attorneys lend a hand to residents without a will
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 13, 2013
Having a valid and up-to-date will is one of the most important and basic parts of the estate planning process, yet recent studies show close to fifty percent of U.S. citizens do not have one in place.
For nine years, Roetzel & Andress has teamed up with the Summit/Portage/Medina chapter of the nonprofit organization LEAVE A LEGACY, participating in its “Write a Will Month” to help more people get this vital document drawn up.
This year the two entities are partnering with Western Reserve Public Media in Kent, which is providing the space where residents can come and get assistance from one of several Roetzel & Andress attorneys free of charge.
“When a person passes away without a will in place, the probate court will name an administrator to handle the estate, and the beneficiaries will be dictated by state statute. It may not turn out the way the decedent intended,” said Steven Cox, a partner in Roetzel’s Akron office, whose practice includes estate planning, estate and trust administration and related matters.
“Having a will in place makes the process more efficient and ensures that the decedent’s wishes are carried out,” said Cox, who has participated in the LEAVE A LEGACY event since it began, as well as lending a hand at similar events around the community. “Depending on the individual family scenario, the process can become time consuming and expensive when there are no instructions in place.”
“We have designated May, ‘Write a Will Month’ for nine years,” said Marlene Dunford, founder and project manager at LEAVE A LEGACY Summit/Portage/Medina.
Dunford said more than 70 attorneys have participated over the years, writing about 1,387 simple wills, helping those whose budgets might deter them from doing so otherwise.
“Only 55 percent of people have a will,” said Dunford.
“Our mission is to educate the public about the importance of having a will, while encouraging people to include their favorite charity in their estate plans,” said Dunford.
“There are many reasons why people do not have a will prepared,” said Cox. “Cost may be a factor, but in most cases, people simply procrastinate. While estate planning is on their list, people may not get it done in time. Sometimes even wealthy clients wait too long.”
LEAVE A LEGACY has 70 partners, including nine allied professionals and six law firms--Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, Maguire Legal Group, Sharp Law Offices, the Law Office of M. Diane Johnson, Stark & Knoll, and Roetzel & Andress--all work to make ‘Write a Will Month,’ a success, said Dunford.
This year, the local chapter of LEAVE A LEGACY is sponsoring events at Victim Assistance in Akron on May 15 and Western Reserve Public Media on May 21.
“This is a new venture for us,” said Toni Kayumi, chief business development officer at Western Reserve Public Media. “We reach over five million viewers and offer a variety of programming to all segments of the population, including a large group of seniors. We believe it is our responsibility to help the community in any way we can.
“So many people do not have a plan in place and if we are able to play a part in assisting someone who cannot afford to have a simple will drawn up, we are happy to do so.”
Three Roetzel & Andress attorneys will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Western Reserve Public Media at 1750 Campus Center Dr. in Kent.
Simple wills can be prepared for those who do not have estate tax concerns or other complicating factors. Kayumi said people who would like to attend the event, need to call 1-800-554-4549 and reserve a spot in advance, as space is limited.
“During the call, I will book the appointment and get the information needed to send the person a form to fill out in advance in order to help expedite the process,” said Kayumi.