Nonprofits host free will-writing workshops

As part of the national Write-A-Will month encouraged by the Leave a Legacy program, Tucson organizations will encourage people to consider charities in their estate plans. The Center for Planned Giving and the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southern Arizona are bringing together Tucson charities and estate planning experts throughout March.

Workshops generally cover “wills, financial powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney and living wills and trusts,” said Kay Richter, who specializes in estate planning and elder law for her firm, The Law Office of Kay Richter. Richter will also discuss how to avoid probate and estate tax at the presentations she gives.

“A lot of people don’t think about these issues, because they don’t want to,” said Robby Adamson, a partner at Duffield Adamson & Helenbolt, P.C. “They think they are too young to think about them, and unforeseen things happen in people’s lives all the time.”

Adamson added that people should review financial and estate planning documents every three to five years or when a family undergoes a change. Don’t plan on writing a will at these workshops, though. They are lecture-style, not hands-on.

Part of estate planning also includes planned giving, which gives individuals a chance to leave assets to charities.

Workshops last throughout the month. RSVP to the hosting organization. For a complete list of upcoming workshops, visit pgrtsoaz.org/write-a-will and scroll down.