An act of Christian stewardship
No matter how large or how small your estate, a will should be one of your first acts of stewardship. It is your chance to care for those you love: your family, your friends, and your church.
Advantages
Who needs a will?
Every adult should have a will. If you die without a will, the laws of your state will determine how your assets are distributed. That might not be in accordance with your wishes and sometimes creates extra expenses and taxes.You may designate someone to represent you after your death. These representatives can include:
You should choose alternates for each of the people named above in case the first person named cannot serve.
How to write a will
Writing a will is a task for a trained professional. The Fuller Center and Mennonite Foundation recommend consulting an attorney who can express your wishes in proper legal language. Most attorneys will write a simple will for a reasonable fee. For large estates, it may help to include a Certified Public Accountant as part of your estate planning team. It may also be helpful to consult a Mennonite Foundation representative before seeing an attorney or accountant. We can help you with your estate planning objectives with a Christian perspective in mind.
How to provide for loved ones
The economic needs of your survivors is a primary concern when writing a will, and these needs change over time. The Fuller Center and Mennonite Foundation recommend that need be a major consideration in deciding how your estate should be distributed. Here are some examples:
Your survivors may benefit through the establishment of a testamentary trust. A trust is an excellent way to provide for minor children if both parents die. It can also be used to save death taxes in larger estates, to provide for handicapped or spend-thrift children, or to manage assets left to a surviving spouse.Another common provision in most wills is for a “common disaster” in which both parents or an entire family dies. If parents die leaving minor children, the estate is generally left to the children, often in the form of a testamentary trust which can be administered by MMA Trust Company. You may wish to designate a portion or all of your estate to charity if the entire family dies
What to consider
While there is no legal document called a “Christian will,” there are certain things that distinguish a Christian’s will. Here are some:
When to review your will
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or would like to talk more about planned giving programs, call Fuller Center headquarters at 229-924-2900.
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