By Freddy Groves Across the country there is a new mental health suicide and crisis line phone number: 988. The Department of Veterans Affairs has merged services with that number to provide an additional resource for veterans to call when they’re in crisis. A result of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, the bill was passed and signed off as law. It’s startling, however, to learn that this bill was first created and sponsored by 34 U.S. senators in 2019. (You can go here to learn whether your state’s senators were among those supporting
this legislation: www.congress. gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2661.) Additionally, it was By James Johnson
A codicil is a document that is executed by a person who had previously made his or her. Will, to modify, delete, qualify or revoke provisions contained in it. There is no legal limit to the number of codicils a person can
have in his or her will. Some examples of when a Layman’s Guide to Codicils codicil can be used are:
• Adding an additional beneficiary
• Adding a newly acquired property
• Removing a property that
was sold
• Removing a beneficiary
• Removing the name of
someone who predeceased you
• Changing the executor
A codicil must be signed in front of two witnesses who are not listed as beneficiaries, guardians or executors to your will. In some states, a self proving affidavit, signed by you and at least two witnesses, under oath, before
a public notary, can be used, as an attachment, To expedite the probate process. Codicils to a will can be challenged; the challenging party can assert that the codicil was improperly prepared, that the deceased lacked capacity to execute the will on the date it wass assigned or that the deceased was subjected to undue influence, by
another, which resulted in the decedent signing the codicil! Lack of capacity refers to mental incompetency; undue influence means improper influence over the decedent; improper execution means that the codicil may not be a binding and valid instrument, from a statutory requirement perspective. A successful challenge of a codicil results in the document being deleted and the will be probated without the deleted codicil.This article is strictly for informational purposes. I am not a lawyer and cannot render legal advice. signed into law in 2020. But these things take time. It wasn’t until the middle of this year, 2022, that the 988 number was hooked up to the VA crisis
line. During the two years, the VA beefed up the number of employees and responding staff by the hundreds. It hooks up 500 suicide prevention coordinators at the VA, which ensures that follow-up care is part of the care a veteran
receives. You can call that 988 number,then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. Or you can call the original
number: 800-273-8255. Or you can text to 838255. And you also can instantly chat at www.veteranscrisisline.
net/get-help-now/chat. There are a number of options to help veterans who need suicide crisis help, and it’s immediate. Somebody will answer 24/7, and you’ll be asked a couple of quick questions, such as whether you are
the veteran or if you’re calling for a veteran who is at risk of suicide or is in immediate danger. It’s all
confidential and free. By the next day someone local (your suicide prevention coordinator) will contact
you and get you lined up for continued support.Go to the “Get Help Now” link above and click around, especially
on “How It Works.”Remember, you don’t have to be enrolled in any VA programs for health care or benefits. If you
are a veteran, this service is for you. You’re not alone.
