Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons) attorney Justin Eckman carries a deep appreciation for the service provided by Idaho’s first responders and law enforcement agents.
“Even looking at this from a purely practical perspective,” says Eckman, “I can sit in my office and do my work because our first responders and law enforcement personnel are working every day to keep our communities safe. It makes sense to give back to them.”
Eckman and other local attorneys decided to donate their own services – estate planning – to ensure Idaho first responders, law enforcement and their families are protected in the future. And he’s looking to get the word out with a goal of offering services to all of Eastern Idaho’s first responders and law enforcement personnel.
Eckman is an estate planning attorney at Parsons and has now coordinated and worked two “Wills for Heroes” events where he and fellow attorneys have provided wills and other estate planning documents at no cost for first responders.
Last weekend at Parsons’ Rexburg office, Eckman and other Parsons’ attorneys and staff as well as attorneys from Hopkins Roden, held a pro bono event for Madison County Sherrif’s Department officers and employees. A total of 27 Madison County Sheriff staff and family members were assisted with creating wills, financial and healthcare powers of attorney and advance directives. Parsons previously held a similar event in conjunction with the Idaho State Bar Young Lawyers Division in Boise for the Boise Fire Department.
Eckman first learned about Wills for Heroes in law school at the University of Utah and was determined to bring the program home to Idaho. When Eckman first talked to sheriff’s department employees, he asked for a show of hands of people who had a will. One hand went up. With typical estate planning costs ranging in the thousands of dollars, Eckman feels there is often a financial barrier to getting the documentation completed.
Wills for Heroes hopes to change that. “This program is available,” Eckman says. “We can set up a similar program of basic estate planning to serve any of Idaho’s first responders.”
Eckman anticipates the next pro bono event to be held in the fall of 2026 and is planning to reach out to departments in Madison and the surrounding counties. If you are a first responder or law enforcement agency and are interested in participating in this program, contact Justin Eckman at Parsons’ Rexburg office at 208.607.4950. There is no obligation to become a Parsons client and the services are provided completely free of charge.
