Department of MA Intiates “Wills for Veterans Day” Program

By Harvey Weiner, National Judge Advocate

On November 9, 2017, the Thursday before Veterans Day, the Massachusetts Department of the JWV inaugurated its first “Wills for Veterans Day”, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  Seven local attorneys who concentrate their practices in estate planning were recruited and volunteered their services for a full day.  National Judge Advocate Harvey Weiner initiated the program and acted as onsite greeter, witness, and gofer.  The event took place in the JFK Federal Building in Boston, which is reached easily by public transportation.  The event was advertised state-wide through the VA, the JWV, and certain other veterans groups and organizations.

Twenty-three veterans and nine spouses had their wills, durable powers of attorneys, and health care proxies drafted and executed on site.  Two veterans required complex estate plans, which two of the volunteer attorneys agreed to draft at a later date.  Two house-bound disabled veterans telephoned and one of the volunteer attorneys agreed to go out to their respective houses to draft their estate plans.  The veterans came from nineteen different cities and towns all over Massachusetts, including from the western part of the state and from Cape Cod.  All seven attorneys volunteered to do it again next year.

If any Department is interested in implementing such a program, I would be glad to speak with its Judge Advocate.

Volume 71. Number 4. Winter 2017