State Bar offers aid to first responders

MONTGOMERY (AP) — On the sixth anniversary of the terrorists attacks, the Alabama State Bar began a program Tuesday to provide free wills and other basic legal documents to firefighters, law enforcement and emergency medical personnel.

"The events of 9/11 are a stark reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices that first responders make for the community every day," Bar President Samuel N. Crosby said.

The first clinic in the "Wills for Heroes" program was held Tuesday afternoon at the Montgomery Police Department. It provided simple wills, advance health-care directives and powers of attorney at no cost.

Other clinics will be held in Montgomery during October. The program moves to Mobile in October, Birmingham in November, and Huntsville and Dothan in early 2008.

The program is patterned after similar efforts in Arizona, South Carolina and Virginia where it was found that first responders are often between the ages of 25 and 35 and frequently don't have wills or health-care directives.

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