Students from the University of Nebraska College of Law Civil Clinic will set up shop at the North Platte Senior Center on Nov. 17 to provide free estate planning services to seniors (60+) who pre-register. 

Pre-registration is open now on a first-come, first served basis. The registration deadline is

Seniors age 60 and older interested in the program should call the University of Nebraska Civil Clinic at (402) 472-3271 (press “0”) to register and schedule a private, confidential appointment.

Appointment slots are limited and scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration deadline is Oct. 9.  

The program is a collaborative effort between the NU College of Law and the West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging. 

During the last nine years, the College of Law has conducted similar clinics around the state, traveling as far west as Scottsbluff. Through the program, student attorneys have assisted nearly 600 older Nebraskans needing basic estate planning services. 

The services provided include the drafting and execution of basic estate planning documents, such as a simple will, a power of attorney instrument, a living will, and a health care power of attorney. 

“The program has been an absolute success,” says Professor Kevin Ruser, who supervises the students providing the legal services. “It provides access to essential legal services to those who could not otherwise afford them, and it provides our students a chance to practice the skills they have learned in school.” 

Ruser says that although there is no income threshold, clients who have complex estates or significant assets will be referred to members of the private bar who specialize in estate planning.

The North Platte Senior Center is at 901 E. 10th.

By Erin Arensdorf, Executive Director, West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging

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