section update
Estate Planning & Probate Section Adds the DeKalb
County Probate Information Clinic to Its List of Pro Bono
Opportunities
By Loraine M. DiSalvo
Morgan & DiSalvo, P.C.
M
embers of the Estate Planning & Probate Section
have a new opportunity to provide pro bono service
to the public through the recently-opened Probate
Information Clinic at the DeKalb County Probate Court.
This program is similar to the Fulton County Probate
Information Center, which the Section has served for years.
Section members who participate as volunteers in these
programs assist individuals with numerous matters, including
filing petitions for Year’s Support and No Administration
Necessary, offering simple wills for probate, and opening
intestate estates. Volunteer attorneys also help individuals
with various estate administration problems, including
discussing the duties of personal representatives, addressing
debt issues, and answering questions regarding real estate
title concerns.
In each of these programs, individuals requesting legal
advice at the Probate Court are asked to s chedule an
appointment. Fulton’s Probate Information Center schedules
appointments every other Monday between 12:30 and
4:30 p.m. DeKalb’s Probate Information Clinic schedules
appointments every other Thursday at 2:00, 2:45, and 3:30
[email protected]
p.m. DeKalb meetings take place at the courthouse in
Decatur. Fulton meetings take place at the main Probate
Court offices in downtown Atlanta. The courts provide space
and resources for use by the volunteer attorneys, and court
staff attorneys are generally willing to help with any questions
the volunteer may have.
The volunteer attorney is not expected or required to take
on any particular individual as a client beyond the scope of
the program meeting itself. If the issue requires legal help
beyond the advice that can be provided during the initial
meeting, the attorney may either refer the individual to
another attorney or make arrangements to continue working
with the individual on a pro bono basis.
Many volunteers have reported receiving great satisfaction
from their work in the Fulton County Probate Information
Center. The Section is pleased to now be able to offer a
similar program in DeKalb County as well. The new DeKalb
County Probate Information Clinic provides even more
chances for our members to serve the community. ■
Estate Planning & Probate Section Announces
New Distinguished Service Award
By Loraine M. DiSalvo
Morgan & DiSalvo, P.C.
T
he Estate Planning & Probate Section proudly
announces its new Distinguished Service Award.
The Distinguished Service Award will be awarded
periodically, but not necessarily annually. Award winners must
be members of the Section. To be selected for the Award,
28
THE ATLANTA LAWYER
October 2012
[email protected]
the candidate must demonstrate a long-term commitment to
the practice of estate planning and probate related law and
to the legal community. Further, the candidate must be held
in high esteem by his or her colleagues in the field. Section
members who wish to propose candidates for consideration
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association