Twitter
Facebook
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — A few days ago, my 4-year-old son, Phoenix, asked me what was going to happen to all of my money when I go to heaven. I think my wife had just told him that his dad would not buy him a candy factory, so money was obviously on this youngster’s mind.
I usually can’t answer most of Phoenix’s questions (e.g., What do clouds taste like? How much does a cloud cost?), but this one I knew I could nail — because I am, in fact, a lawyer. So, I effortlessly responded, “Son, Dad’s will will take care of that.” In his 4-year-old dialect, Phoenix, just as effortlessly, responded, “then, when will your ‘will’ buy me a candy factory?”
Just about then, my 7-month-old son began to cry. Immediately, a pang of anxiety ripped through my legal skull — I have a new baby, but I don’t have a new will. Foolishly, in the commotion, stress, and excitement of our pending permanent change of station, I had completely forgotten to amend my will to account for my new son. Now, I realize this is not the crime of the century.
But here’s the thing: I’ve been briefing Airmen for 14 years on the importance of estate planning, on the importance of updating your will, on the importance of having all your legal affairs in order before you move, or before you deploy; and yet I had failed to heed my own words.
Now, clearly I have the inside track on getting a will. I could just walk down the hall and one of my seven judge advocate generals would love to draft the document that determines where the boss’s money goes in the event of his untimely demise.
But, instead of going directly to my JAGs, I decided to join the crowd and try out the new legal assistance Web site that was advertised in the paper a few weeks back. The new Web site is https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil.
To be honest, I was a little skeptical the Web site might be just another “save-time-initiative” that did save time for the unit, but not for the frustrated customer that took on the work.
This is absolutely not the case with the legal assistance Web site. It saves you time.
By visiting the Web site at home, I had all the information I needed to completely fill out my will worksheet (e.g., relatives’ names, addresses, inventory of valuables). Most importantly, I was able to discuss critical decisions about our assets and our children with my wife in the privacy of our home. After I completed the will worksheet, the Web site produced a ticket number that allowed an attorney in my office to pull up my confidential information and then draft and discuss my will with me.
If you are still not convinced that you need to visit this legal assistance Web site, here are five reasons to check it out:
1. You can print your own general or special power of attorney, and bring it in to get notarized during the duty day (not just legal assistance hours).
2. You can research legal topics like taxes, identity theft and deployment readiness.
3. You can prepare for your legal visit while you’re on temporary duty or out of the office.
4. You can take an online survey to rate how my attorneys are doing, so we can provide you even better service.
5. You can get your son’s candy factory inheritance in writing.
To ensure that you are legally ready for your PCS, deployment, or for whatever comes your way, check out https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil before visiting the legal office.
