Wills & Estates Statistics

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It’s clear that the majority of Americans don’t understand the importance of a solid estate plan: Around 68 percent of us lack a valid will or trust! And those who die intestate (without a will) leave their loved ones with a complicated mess. They also never have a chance to invest in their legacy with a favorite charity.

Look at all the poor people who died without a will.

The good news is, reminding your supporters about the importance of having an estate plan to protect their loved ones presents a golden opportunity for your nonprofit. That’s because you’ll be top of mind while they’re completing their planning — and that means you’ll be first in line for bequests or other planned gifts.

Estate planning is usually not a do-it-yourself project, but many donors prefer to at least get started by themselves, waiting until they’re finished before having it reviewed by a lawyer. Others are perfectly comfortable completing a simple will online. And because it is not our place to decide for them, we created two options that you can feature on your planned giving website.

One is ?a comprehensive (and attorney-vetted) free will maker that comes with ?a reminder them that having a professional guide them through the process ensures everything is carried out as intended. It produces a will that is legal in all 50 states.

The other is a free will organizer, which helps your donors organize their assets, documents, and information before taking a trip to an estate planning attorney.

No matter if you choose one or both, they are integrated into your planned giving website. This preserves the feeling of trust your supporters feel when they’re on your website. It also presents the perfect opportunity to showcase and discuss other gifting methods.

Creating a will is probably the most important practical thing anyone will ever do for their personal peace of mind and the well-being of their family. It’s also an exceptional opportunity for you to begin a conversation about your organization’s gift planning tools.

So what are you waiting for? If you need more convincing, check out our will planning statistics page. And for more information about our planned giving marketing tools, the LegacyOrganizer? and LegacyPlanner?, or to learn how you can help your donors care for loved ones and invest in their legacy, contact us today.