December 5, 2022

Terrence Jones* is 34 years old and looks forward to a long and healthy future. Still, he wants to be sure that if something unexpected happens to him, he has a will in place. "I just want to make sure I have my affairs in order in case of an emergency," says Jones, a client who came to the Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham (VLB) Wills Clinic December 1 at SocialVenture in Woodlawn. "Who knows if or when that could take place."

Volunteer lawyers were on hand at the clinic to help low-income residents of Jefferson County prepare wills, advance directives, and powers of attorney in order to gain control over what happens to their estates in the future.

M.V. Young (Maynard) was a first-time volunteer at the Wills Clinic.

Volunteer M.V. Young (Maynard) works with clients to create wills as part of his private practice and talked about the importance of providing these services to those who otherwise could not afford a lawyer.

"If you pass away without a will, the laws of intestacy are going to govern the disposition of your estate," Young says, "and having an intestate administration for an estate can be costly. The administrator would need to obtain

a bond, and the premiums for bonds can be quite expensive even for relatively low-value estates. You can create a will easily and in very little time, so it’s definitely something you should do, not only to make sure your estate passes the way you want it to but also so you can avoid unnecessary expense on the back end. That way more of your assets pass to your family members or whomever you want them to pass to."

Bob Methvin (Methvin Terrell), a longtime VLB volunteer and a former president of the Alabama Bar Association, says he came out to help first and foremost because he believes pro bono works is critical to helping communities thrive. "I think as part of our profession we need to give back to the community and help those who need it most," he says, adding that the Wills Clinic in particular is a good way to educate the public about the importance of legal planning.

"A lot of people don't realize how important a power of attorney can be, for example," he says. "In the event someone is incapacitated, their loved one or whomever they designate can act on their behalf.

"You have to get it done when everybody’s healthy, and it’s a good public service to get that word out and help folks so they don’t have to deal with that in a time of crisis."

Leon Johnson helped a client draft a will.

Sidni Smith and Robin-Renee Keys (Bradley)

Like Young, volunteer Robin-Renee Keys (Bradley) has seen first-hand the importance of legal planning. "I did a lot of heir-property dispute work in law school, and seeing how many properties are lost to heir-property disputes, I know the importance of getting things in writing," she says. "People in underrepresented communities often don't have access to these things. That's my reason for volunteering at this clinic specifically—to keep property with families." Young adds that the COVID-19 pandemic especially drove home the importance of legal planning for all people.

VLB is scheduling several more Wills Clinics in the coming year to help low-income families create generational wealth and strengthen neighborhoods by empowering low-income residents to keep property in their families. Please consider volunteering for a Wills Clinic in 2023!

*Client's name changed to protect his privacy.

Thanks to the lawyers who volunteered at the Woodlawn Wills Clinic last week:

Destinee Small (Maynard, far right) with clients at the Woodlawn Wills Clinic