Attorneys help first responders at first-ever Sheboygan Co. Wills for Heroes clinic

Listen to this article

Wisconsin attorneys provided some peace of mind for nearly three dozen Sheboygan County first responders and their families as corporate counsel at three big Sheboygan-area employers put on the county’s first Wills for Heroes clinic in early December.

Wills for Heroes is a nonprofit organizatoin that provides free basic estate-planning documents and guidance to first responders. Kris Havlik, business lawyer at Foley & Lardner’s Milwaukee office, helped start Wills for Heroes in Wisconsin in 2009.

“It’s a great way for me to use my unique set of estate planning skills to give back to my community,” Havlik said.

Havlik said the program is a partnership with the pro bono division of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Over the past 10 years, she and other attorneys have held almost 400 clinics around the state and helped thousands of first responders and their families with estate planning.

Nate Ganfield, general counsel at Johnsonville, organized the Sheboygan County clinic, which was held on Dec. 4. He learned about Wills for Heroes from Kohl’s general counsel, who had recently held a clinic at his company.

“I thought it was just an awesome idea,” Ganfield said. “He was really positive about the response he received from his folks.”

Ganfield brought together attorneys from Johnsonville, Kohler and Sargento — all in Sheboygan County — for the clinic. Nearly three dozen officials from the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office and Sheboygan Falls Police Department attended and completed their estate-planning documents.

Ganfield and Havlik said the first responders and their families were grateful to have help with what can be difficult documents.

“It’s really a two-way street,” Havlik said. “They’re grateful that we’re able to give them free estate planning documents, and for me and our volunteers, we’re thankful because this is a way for us to say thank you to our first responders for putting their lives on the line every day.”

Havlik said Wills for Heroes is scheduling another eight clinics for next year, including one for fire departments in Sheboygan County planned for spring.

“It’s really rewarding to see how the program has evolved, how word about it has gotten out and what we’ve accomplished,” Havlik said.

Both she and Ganfield encourage other attorneys to get involved with Wills for Heroes.

“It’s an awesome opportunity to give back to people who have sacrificed so much for our community,” Ganfield said.

Volunteer opportunities are listed on the state bar’s Wills for Heroes page. Follow @WLJReporter