August is National Make a Will Month. Mennonite Mission Network has been blessed to receive gifts from many people who have included the organization in their wills. Jason Ault, development representative for Mission Network, shares about the importance of creating a will, no matter what age you are or your level of wealth.
What do these people have in common:
Pablo Picasso, Sonny Bono, Howard Hughes, Martin Luther King Jr., Aretha Franklin and Abraham Lincoln?
All were notable in their professional fields that are so varied that it might be hard to connect them. All of them died without having created a will. Some of these people had accumulated significant assets, making the process of settling their estates slow and complicated.
August is National Make a Will Month, which reminds people to get these important plans established. A 2022 survey by Caring.com found that two-thirds of Americans have not created a will. Reasons for this include cost, complexity and fear. However, it is imperative that people have a will in place.
Dying without a will is termed "intestate." When this happens, state authorities follow specific procedures to determine how an estate will be divided. Some people associate the term "estate," with wealthy families, but in actuality, an estate is simply defined by Oxford Languages as "all the money and property owned by a particular person, especially at death."
Without having a will, we cannot prioritize specific wishes. There may be loved ones whom we want to receive extra attention and assistance, and there may be others whom we might not want to help as much. Maybe we want our minor children to be cared for by a certain person or family. The absence of a will removes our ability to ensure our desires are fulfilled.
It is also very difficult, or even impossible, to make gifts to charity from our final assets without a will. Authorities do not consider your charitable interests when dividing your estate. If it is your intention to support Mennonite Mission Network, your church or any other organization at the end of your life, you must communicate that in a will. Mission Network has been blessed by many individuals who have included gifts in their wills.
A Greek proverb says, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." This saying emphasizes the importance of making decisions and taking actions that benefit future generations, even if we do not personally reap the rewards.
It is never too late or too early to set up a will. An Australian study reports that 76% of Australians who created their first will did so at age 80 or later. Take this necessary step to make important decisions for yourself and take care of loved ones and causes in your life.
For more questions about wills and planned giving, contact Jason Ault at JasonA@MennoniteMission.net.
Everence, and other financial institutions, can help you take the first step in planning your will. Everence has a free guide that includes insights on directives for medical treatment, personal representatives, estate planning and more.
When you set up your will or start your planned giving journey, consider supporting Mission Network’s personnel, programs and partnerships. These ministries rely on the prayers and generosity of people like you to carry out God’s work in the world.
To give today, visit MennoniteMission.net/Donate.
