Rev. Lynn Benson – Director of Legacy Giving, UMF
Almost everyday I listen to Jill on Money, a podcast that features call-in listeners asking money questions (shocking, I know). The questions range from, “How can I get started with budget-making decisions,” to “Can I retire with the money I have?” The answers are as varied as the questions. The one thing that is constant is the question Jill asks the caller before the call ends.
She asks, “Do you have your estate plans in place?”
Many callers respond, “Yes,” as no doubt they anticipated the question (it is a guarantee that she is going to ask this question). But occasionally someone will hem and haw, hesitating to answer, as they know they SHOULD have these important documents in place.
Now it is your turn to answer, “Do you have your estate plans in place?
What do I mean when I ask this? Here is what I am referring to:
- Will or trust
- Advance (Medical) Directive
- Healthcare Power of Attorney
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Life Insurance
There can be more than five important legal documents, but these five would be the basic ones I would commend to EVERY adult (we are adults, according to our government, at age 18). These documents are not difficult to put in place, nor are they especially expensive. But it is easy to procrastinate.
Laws change, regulations can be expanded or deleted without notice. If you do have these documents in place, it is possible your documents could use an update.
Often it is a “wake-up call” that gets our attention to the need for these documents. Recently I was invited to offer a Wills & Estate Planning Seminar with a local congregation. The person planning this event on behalf of his congregation told me that he learned how important it is to have these documents in place after helping his sister who lost her husband after his untimely and unexpected death. His brother-in-law’s death had not only left his family missing a husband, a father, and the primary breadwinner, but also a family without these important documents, causing so much more unintended pain and loss. The person planning the event never wanted to go through this again. He believed that helping his brothers and sisters in Christ learn more about these important documents was the best gift he could give his friends.
We at UMF are glad to help you and your congregation learn more about these documents through a Wills & Estate Planning Seminar. We welcome the opportunity to come to your church soon to lead this workshop. Please contact me at lbenson@umfnc.org and we will get this event on our calendar. I guarantee you will be glad you did; you will experience peace of mind knowing these important documents are in place, benefiting not only you, but also the ones you love.