Volunteer lawyer program offers free estate planning

Feb. 28-- Feb. 28--A Community Action of Skagit County program is offering free estate planning to seniors who live in subsidized housing.

The Skagit Volunteer Lawyer Program's Will Clinic helps seniors make a plan for their assets and health care in the event they aren't able to advocate for themselves, said Terry Shaberg, staff attorney for the nonprofit.

"It's a way of preserving their dignity and autonomy for when they can't make their own decisions," he said.

The program is a collaboration between Community Action and the Skagit County Bar Association, he said.

Without these documents, he said seniors could end up in a situation where someone they don't select ends up making health care decisions on their behalf.

This kind of work is "very tedious, very time-consuming and very expensive," Shaberg said. He estimated this program saves seniors $350 to $550 in attorney fees.

"The people we're helping, usually the things in their apartments and their Social Security (benefits) are all they have," he said.

Aside from saving money, Shaberg said having end-of-life plans in place can offer peace of mind for both seniors and their families.

He said eight volunteer lawyers have helped about 50 seniors compose their wills and detail their health care wishes since the program began in September.

The clinic has been held in several subsidized housing projects in the county, including Harbor House in Anacortes and the Hillsview Apartments in Sedro-Woolley.

The next clinic is 1 to 4 p.m. March 15 at the Hillsview Apartments, 830 Township St., Sedro-Woolley.

Shaberg said he hopes to eventually offer the program to more low-income seniors.

-- Reporter Brandon Stone: bstone@skagitpublishing.com, 360-416-2112, Twitter: @Brandon_SVH

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