Firefighters — who it's for
Who the Firefighter Estate Planning Program is for
This program is written for fire service personnel — career and volunteer — who want a will and a power of attorney finished around a shift schedule rather than during business hours.
Roles this program is written for
Volunteer members are explicitly included. Volunteer departments often provide narrower benefit coverage than career staff assume, which puts more weight on the documents you create yourself.
- Career firefighters and engineers
- Volunteer and part-paid firefighters
- Lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs and chief officers
- Fire medics and firefighter-paramedics
- Fire inspectors, investigators and prevention staff
- Training officers and academy instructors
- Wildland and forestry firefighters
- Department administrative and support staff
- Retired fire service members
When it matters most
The situations that move this off the someday list.
You have children under 18
Naming a guardian, and a backup guardian, is the single item most firefighters say they meant to handle. It has to be in a will to carry weight.
You work overtime or a second job
Multiple employers means multiple benefit files and multiple beneficiary forms. The will is what ties the picture together and covers everything those forms do not.
You are a volunteer with a full-time career elsewhere
Your department coverage and your employer coverage rarely line up. Assume neither one covers your house, your vehicles or your children's guardianship, because neither does.
Your family is blended
Default inheritance law does not recognize a stepchild you raised. If your household does not match the state's assumption, the will is what corrects it.
You have an occupational illness diagnosis, or a family history of one
The documents matter now, and so does leaving your exposure records, department documentation and claim contacts somewhere your family can actually find them.
You are close to retirement or in DROP
Survivor elections made at retirement are often locked in. Coordinate the pension election, the beneficiary forms and the will before that date, not after.
When it isn't the right fit
A will and a power of attorney are not always enough.
If any of these describe you, say so on the free consult and we will point you to a trust-based plan instead of selling you the wrong document set.
See the trust-based plans- You own rental or out-of-state property that would create a second probate
- You run a side business — contracting, inspections, training — that needs succession terms
- You have a family member on needs-based disability benefits who requires a special needs trust
- Your estate is large enough to raise estate tax questions
- Probate avoidance is your main goal, which generally means a funded living trust
What to have ready.
Nothing has to be exact to begin. You can start with what you know and fill in the rest before you sign.
- Legal names and dates of birth for everyone you intend to name
- Your personal representative choice, plus a backup
- Your financial agent under the power of attorney, plus a backup
- Guardian and backup guardian if you have minor children
- A rough list of property, vehicles, accounts and policies
- Current pension, DROP, union, 457(b) and life insurance beneficiary designations if handy
Written by an estate planning attorney.
Online convenience, attorney oversight, and estate planning priced so getting started doesn't cost thousands. You spend your life serving and protecting others — let us help you protect the people you love.