ST. GEORGE, Utah (March 13, 2026) — Nearly 40 individuals left the Utah State Bar’s Spring Convention on Thursday with newly completed estate planning documents designed to protect loved ones and ensure their final wishes are carried out. The free legal service was provided by volunteer attorneys through the Wills for Heroes program.

For the first time, the annual clinic hosted by the Bar’s Young Lawyers Division expanded eligibility to include public school teachers, joining first responders and military veterans who traditionally receive the services. The clinic took place at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George as part of the two-day convention, which also commemorated the Bar’s 95th anniversary.

Organizers say expanding eligibility to educators recognizes the essential role teachers play in their communities and acknowledges that many public servants face barriers to obtaining estate planning services.

“This event reflects the legal profession’s dedication to giving back to those who dedicate their lives to serving others,” said YLD Board member Jessica Arthurs. “First responders, veterans, and educators play vital roles in our communities, and ensuring their families are protected is a meaningful way attorneys can support them.”

Volunteer attorneys spent the afternoon preparing wills, health care directives, and powers of attorney for participants and their partners — documents that can help families navigate difficult circumstances during some of life’s most challenging moments.

For Amy Barton, a public school teacher, the clinic came at an especially meaningful time.

“This opportunity was fantastic,” Barton said. “I am currently dealing with the estate of my dad and seeing what he had in place, what might have made things easier, and realizing that I needed to do the same kinds of things for myself and my husband. So, this came at just the right time, and it was so wonderful.”

Military veterans also participated in the clinic, including Michelle Cook, who said the experience gave her family peace of mind.

“I think this event is really great,” Cook said. “And now we’ll have something in place for our kids.”

For Navy veteran Jeff Couturier, the event provided guidance through a legal process he had long postponed.

“I’m here because I don’t know squat about wills or other documents,” Couturier said. After meeting with Joseph Castro, Wills for Heroes chair, he left the clinic understanding his options and with a completed living will.

In Utah, the Wills for Heroes program uses technology to increase its ability to serve as many participants as possible at each event. Participants begin the process at home by filling out a survey in Knackly, custom-built software developed for the Wills for Heroes team. Completing the questionnaire in advance allows participants to consider key decisions and discuss them with a spouse, partner, or trusted family member before arriving at the clinic.

At the event, participants are paired with a volunteer attorney to efficiently review the participant’s information and create the documents. The attorney then reviews the draft estate planning documents with the participant to ensure each person understands the provisions before signing.

Once finalized, the documents are formally executed, witnessed, and notarized by volunteers from the Paralegal Division of the Bar. The process typically takes about an hour, allowing participants to leave the clinic with completed estate planning documents on the same day. To protect privacy, the Wills for Heroes program does not retain copies of participants’ documents or personal information.

In Utah, the Young Lawyers Division hosts approximately four Wills for Heroes clinics each year in communities across the state, serving more than 100 clients annually. The events allow attorneys early in their careers to provide meaningful pro bono service while helping ensure that families of public servants have essential legal protections in place.

About the Young Lawyers Division
The Young Lawyers Division of the Utah State Bar is a statewide network of attorneys in their first 10 years of practice or under age 36. The organization focuses on professional development, leadership opportunities, and community service initiatives that expand access to legal services across Utah.