It's never too early to start the process of estate planning, and the Del City and Choctaw Libraries can help you begin. The libraries are sponsoring workshops called "Estate Planning for Everyone."

The workshop will be presented at the Del City Library, 4509 S.E. 15 th in Del City , on Monday, July 31, 2006 , beginning at 6:30 p.m.

It will be repeated at the Choctaw Library, 2525 Muzzy Street in Choctaw, on Saturday, August 5, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Del City librarian Sam Weehunt says that the workshop is being presented by Steve Goodner, Divisional Planned Giving Director for the Salvation Army.

"Steve has offered this information to the public many times before," Weehunt said, "so he has lots of answers to the most frequently asked questions."

"The Salvation Army," Goodner added, "provides no-cost services, assisting individuals in pre-planning their estates.  I'll have with me information on an array of such estate-planning topics as wills, trusts, tax strategies and asset distribution is available without obligation.  

"We do not offer legal or tax advice. The focus in this workshop is on educating the interested individual so he or she will be better prepared to make these important decisions.  In addition, this information is really important when meeting with other estate-planning professionals, such as attorneys, tax advisors, and financial planners."

For more information and to pre-register for the Del City workshop, call 672-1377. For Choctaw, call 390-8418. The Estate Planning Workshops are free and open to the public.

The Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County includes 12 libraries and five extension libraries. Libraries include Belle Isle, Capitol Hill, Ralph Ellison, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library and Southern Oaks in Oklahoma City, as well as Bethany, Choctaw, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Village and Warr Acres. Extensions are located in the communities of Harrah, Jones, Luther and Nicoma Park and include Wright Library in Oklahoma City . You can also reach us at www.metrolibrary.org.