Estate Planning News

Committee To Present Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards

In recognition of outstanding commitment in providing volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged in Massachusetts, Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis X. Spina, on behalf of the SJC Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, will present the fifth annual Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards to four recipients at a ceremony in the John Adams Courthouse on Tuesday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m.

The recipients are the Springfield law firm of Heisler, Feldman, McCormick & Garrow, P.C.; Attorney Samuel B. Moskowitz of Newton, who practices in the law firm of Davis, Malm & D’Agostine, P.C. in Boston; and Attorney Marion E. Broidrick of South Yarmouth, presently Second Assistant Clerk-Magistrate of the Barnstable District Court, and Attorney Lawrence A. Zalis of West Barnstable, a sole practitioner, for their work on behalf of the Barnstable Action for New Directions (BAND) Program of the Barnstable District Court Drug Court.
 
Justice Spina said, “The recipients have all made wonderful contributions to the practice of law as envisioned by SJC Rule 6.1.”

The Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services works to promote volunteer legal work in Massachusetts to help people of limited means in need of legal representation, in accordance with SJC Rule 6.1. The awards are named in honor of Attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
 
The law firm of Heisler, Feldman, McCormick & Garrow, P.C. is honored for its dedication to assisting low-income litigants. Among the firm’s varied pro bono activities is the Hampden County Pro Bono Housing Project, launched by partner Suzanne Garrow in conjunction with the Western Massachusetts Committee of the Women’s Bar Association. Firm attorneys have spearheaded the effort to ensure that, on a weekly basis, volunteer attorneys are available to assist self-represented litigants. In addition to litigating and mediating cases, the firm has hosted training for lawyers volunteering for the Project. Since its inception, the Project has represented more than eighty clients before the Western Division of the Housing Court. Firm members also take pro bono assignments on a regular basis from local legal services agencies, the Massachusetts Justice Project, the HIV/Aids Law Consortium, the Salvation Army’s Housing Project in Hampshire County, and the Housing Discrimination Project in Holyoke. Read more at mass.gov

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	Did You Know?
	A "Living Trust" can be used to hold legal title to and provide a mechanism to manage your property You can select the person or persons you want -- often even yourself -- as the Trustee(s) to carry out the instructions you want in the Trust and name one or more Successor Trustees to take over if you cannot. Unlike a Will, a Trust usually becomes effective immediately, continues in force during your lifetime even in the event of your incapacity, and continues after your death. Most Trusts are "revocable" which allows the person who creates the Trust to make future changes, modifications and even to terminate it.