From staff reports
A partnership between two local not-for-profits is enabling area residents to get, at no cost, the two documents they would need on file should such an event come to pass: a legal will and a health care power of attorney. The documents help to ensure that at a time of crisis family members know your wishes and don’t have to decide — if you are unable to do so — what kind of medical care you would, or would not, want.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) and Lowcountry Legal Volunteers (LLV) have scheduled a series of clinics over the next six months at which residents who qualify can meet with an LLV staff attorney or a volunteer attorney from the community to develop a will and a health care power of attorney, also known as a health care proxy. Residents leave the meeting with the finalized documents in hand.
If you are interested, the first step is to call the Lowcountry Legal Volunteer office. A member of the staff will assist you in determining if you meet the qualifications for free legal assistance. Qualifications are based primarily on income.
If you qualify, the office will schedule an appointment for you between noon and 4 p.m., on one of the following clinic dates: April 22, June 24, Aug. 26, Oct. 22. Clinics will be held in the Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center, 990 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers provides free, critical legal services and education to low-income residents of Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties. Services are available in both English and Spanish.
For more information about the legal will and health care proxy clinics, call 843-815-1570 or email info@lclv.org.
