Indian Wills and Estate Planning

Free to all Tribal Members
June 23 to July 5, 2022

At various location on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Visit WarmSprings.NativeWill.org to make an appointment.

Attorney Roberta Armstrong, of the Stewards of Indigenous Resources Endowment, will be in Warm Springs for the next few weeks, helping tribal members with estate planning.

The service is free to tribal members, and is of increasing importance, because of recent federal legislation, the American Indian Probate Reform Act.

The goal of SIRE, Armstrong says, “is to keep tribal land in tribal members’ hands.”

“Because of a change in federal law governing the disposition of property following a tribal member’s passing, having a will has taken on greater importance,” said Armstrong.

The law, AIPRA, dictates how property will be distributed following the passing of a tribal member who does not have a will.

“The way to avoid the situation, and control the distribution of the estate, is to have a will,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong has her office at the Land Services Office. She and her Scribes will be in Warm Springs until July 5th.

To contact Armstrong, call 866-639-5550, visit WarmSprings.NativeWill.org, or email Roberta@IndianWillsOnWheels.org.

Individuals who schedule appointments with Armstrong will complete an authorization form for her to obtain the following information prior to the scheduled appointment.

1. A report of Individual Trust Interests that lists all trust land ownership interests for that individual;

2. A current Individual Indian Monies account statement.

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Help us... to help you... Keep Tribal Lands in Tribal Member's Hands!

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Meet Our Team

Roberta originally began her career as a chemical engineer and paper science engineer with the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. She received a JD from the University of Washington School of Law and has completed an extensive internship with the Institute of Indian Estate Planning and Probate working with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. Over the years she has brought Indian estate planning education to the Indian Nations in Oregon, Arizona, Washington, and many others.

Adeline is a law school student at Arizona State University. She previously studied psychology and music at Drury University. While attending undergraduate school Adeline worked in the advocate office for a domestic violence shelter and volunteered on a 24-hour crisis hotline. She was attracted to S.I.R.E. because of the opportunity to serve a historically underrepresented community, expand her knowledge base and to gain more hands-on experience working with clients

Heather is a student at Arizona State University in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Before starting law school, Heather worked as a technical writer and content designer at KUBRA, writing documentation and user interface text for communication tools used by utility companies. She hopes to continue translating complex ideas into simple language in her legal work and is excited to learn more about the Warm Springs area and the intricacies of Indian estate planning.

Sponsored by SIRE. Donations appreciated.

WHO IS SIRE?

The Stewards of Indigenous Resources Endowment [SIRE] is a grassroots non-profit professional service corporation founded in 2007 by Washington State attorney Roberta Armstrong.

SIRE'S mission is to provide AIPRA education and quality estate planning services to as many Indian landowners as possible and the legal community who serves them.

WHAT IS AIPRA?

On June 20, 2006, the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 [AIPRA] went into effect. Prior to the passage of this Act, the transfer of Indian lands was governed by the state law in which the Indian land was located. This Act replaces state intestacy laws when an Indian landowner dies without a will. As with any section of the law, it is important for the legal community to be aware of the effects AIPRA brings.

WHY DONATE?

This is a Free community event provided by the Stewards of Indigenous Resources Endowment, a grassroots non-profit serving Indian Country since 2007.

The services provided by SIRE and its associated websites and staff are supported by generous donations from people like you. Your continued financial support allows us to offer FREE Wills and Estate Planning for those in need - allowing us to help Tribal Members protect you and your Elders' Indian Trust Properties. Our goal is to ensure that Tribal Lands remain Tribal Ancestry, and in Tribal Hands. Thank You for your support.

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