The Wills for Heroes (WFH) program was started in Columbia, South Carolina after 9/11 and is designed to assist emergency personnel in preparing Wills to protect themselves and their families. Launched in Minnesota in 2007 by the MSBA Probate and Trust Section, the Minnesota program is now part of the Minnesota State Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and is one of 21 programs nationwide.

The WFH program provides first responders and their spouse with a volunteer attorney to assist in preparing wills and other estate planning documents at no charge. Those eligible include:
     • Police officers
     • Firefighters
     • EMTs and Paramedics
     • Corrections officers
     • Spouses/domestic partners or widow/widowers of such personnel

If you are a single first responder and your individual net worth exceeds $500,000*, this service is unavailable to you due to the complexity of your estate and the limited time to complete the legal documents.

If you are a married fist responder, you and your spouse can have a combined net worth of up to $1,000,000*.

*To determine your net worth, include your cash, personal property, stock and bonds, real estate equity, savings, and the value of life insurance policies.