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IU expands free service for wills and advanced directives for employees and students to IUPUI campus

For Immediate Release Aug 15, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana University Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, in collaboration with the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law at IUPUI, is offering wills and advanced directives document-preparation services at no charge to university employees, students and their parents with an annual income of $50,000 or less.

The documents, a simple will and health care power of attorney, will be drafted by a trained second- or third-year McKinney student and reviewed by one of the staff attorneys in the university’s legal office.

This program launched in 2016 at the IU Maurer School of Law in Bloomington. Due to its success, the program has been expanded to include the McKinney School of Law.

“We are delighted to partner with the McKinney School of Law to offer this benefit to IU employees, students and their parents who meet the economic threshold, which will help clarify intentions and ease the burden on families in times of stress,” said IU Vice President and General Counsel Jacqueline Simmons. “People who die without a will have their estates distributed according to Indiana statutory law, which might not reflect their wishes. People who do not designate a health care power of attorney deprive family members of the right to make important end-of-life decisions on their behalf.”

“The McKinney School of Law has a long-standing history of pro bono assistance; in fact, our graduating class of 2017 contributed over 20,000 hours of pro bono services to the community,” said Andrew Klein, dean and Paul E. Beam Professor of Law. “We are incredibly pleased to be a part of this program.”

Added Chasity Thompson, assistant dean for the Office of Professional Development at the McKinney School of Law: “Each year, our graduating students are acknowledged for their outstanding service to the community. Many students far exceed the minimum recognition amount of 50 hours. This wonderful initiative will afford our students the opportunity to help others in the campus community plan for their families and the future while further honing their legal skills.”

The wills and advanced directives document-preparation services are available to employees, students and their parents at any IU-managed campus including IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast.

Kristine J. Bouaichi, chair of the trusts and estates group at Indianapolis-based law firm Ice Miller, trained the law students and staff attorneys for this project.

For more information, see the program website or call the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel at 812-855-9739.

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IU Newsroom

John Schwarb

Senior Communications Specialist/Content Strategist, IUPUI

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