Client Information for the Wills for Heroes Program

The Wills for Heroes Foundation provides essential estate planning documents free of charge to our nation's veterans and first responders.
The Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section and Exelon have partnered with the national Wills for Heroes Foundation to offer this service in Chicago.
At our events, volunteer attorneys and law students prepare basic Wills and powers of attorney for first responders and veterans and their spouses or partners.

Upcoming Clinic Dates

September 14, 2024
November 9, 2024
February 8, 2025
March 8, 2025
April 12, 2025
May 3, 2025

See below for information on how to sign up.

Wills for Heroes Clinic Location

Chicago Police Headquarters, located at 3510 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653. Parking is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible for the program? To be eligible, you must:
- Be a first responder (police officer, firefighter, paramedic) or military veteran, or a spouse/partner of a first responder or military veteran
- Be a resident of the State of Illinois
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have never been declared legally incompetent
- Be an appropriate candidate for a simple will and/or power of attorney for healthcare or property, as determined through the intake process.*
*Those in need of a trust, or who have property out of state, are not eligible for the program. Individuals with an estimated net worth in excess of one million dollars should consult with a professional estate planner to discuss the tax ramifications of their estate plan.

What documents will I receive in participating in the Wills for Heroes program? 
A simple will, power of attorney for healthcare, and power of attorney for property. The program does not provide trusts of any kind, nor do we give tax advice. 

How do I sign up to attend an event?
Email Marge (margarita.llamasodom@exeloncorp.com) to confirm your eligibility and be added to the schedule. You will be scheduled for an appointment between 9am-11am.

How does the Clinic work? 
You will be contacted ahead of time to confirm your availability to attend an in-person clinic and assigned a time. Clinics take place at Chicago Police Headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Ave. on one Saturday per month. You will receive a questionnaire to print and complete in preparation for your appointment. You will work with volunteer drafters, reviewers, and notaries to complete your documents at the clinic.  

What are my transportation options? 
The Chicago Police Headquarters is easily accessible via the CTA's Green and Red Lines and Metra's Rock Island District Line. There is also free on-site parking for clients.

Is there a virtual program that I can participate in instead of attending an in-person event?
Virtual appointments are available upon request. In the virtual program, clients are paired with an attorney via email as soon as an attorney becomes available. You will receive a questionnaire to complete in preparation for the appointment. During the appointment, the attorney will walk you through the execution of your estate plan documents. Please note: to comply with Illinois law, you must sign your estate plan documents in front of a Notary Public and witnesses via audio-visual communication technology (e.g. Zoom, Skype, Facetime) with the assistance of the attorney. You must have access to a printer and scanner to complete the process. Please email wills@chicagobar.org to schedule an appointment using our Virtual Program

Program Contact Information

For all other program questions, please contact Wills For Heroes Committee Co-Chairs John Festa and Sharmon Paris. For general inquires, contact the YLS Department of The Chicago Bar Association at 312-554-2070 or wills@chicagobar.org.