Your Will

Making Your Will...A Christian Responsibility
In the busy lives we live today, we may forget to stop and consider whether we have taken care of our long-term responsibilities. Establishing long-term plans and goals are ideals to which we aspire, but day-to-day challenges and obligations often seem to stand in our way.

This is particularly true when we think about making a will. In addition to time constraints, there is a natural reluctance to think about our deaths. Being Christians gives us the peace and security of knowing we have a home with God, but being human makes it an unsettling task to deal with issues that relate to our ultimate deaths and the deaths of those we love.

Despite these realities, part of becoming good stewards toward people and the things with which God has blessed us means taking responsibility for making important decisions regarding the distribution and administration of our estates.

As Christians, a last will and testament should be more than just a legal document. It is our opportunity to demonstrate responsible stewardship by providing for the security of those God has entrusted to our care. It is also our opportunity to give tangible expressions of our commitment and thankfulness to God by giving back a portion of our material blessings to those people and organizations that are striving to carry on His work.

"...And from everyone who has been given much, much will be required..."   Luke 12:48

As Americans, even those of us with the least would be considered wealthy by most of the world's standards. Consequently, as Christians who have been given much, we have a responsibility to take seriously the task of determining where and to whom our assets should pass.
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Your Will Offers You Many Opportunities
Your will enables you to choose how and to whom your assets will be given. If you do not have a will, the state where you live has laws that dictate who will inherit your assets at your death. Consequently, the courts that handle probate in your state will make these decisions for you.

Your will enables you to take care of your family and other loved ones. 95 You protect your family's future security by limiting the expense of estate tax and administrative costs that can reduce an inheritance when no provisions are made through a will.

Protecting and providing for your children (and perhaps grandchildren) is one of the greatest responsibilities God has given you. For minor children, if you fail to name a guardian for them under your will, the courts must make the choice of who will raise your children. Having a will allows you to prayerfully select a guardian to care for your children, should you die prematurely.

Your will also enables you to create trusts for your children or grandchildren so a trusted individual or institution can manage their inheritances until they reach the age you decide will be appropriate for them to handle this responsibility. If no trust exists, generally any assets passing to children or grandchildren under your will would be distributed to them outright when they reach the age of majority as defined by the laws of your state.

A will also gives you the opportunity to prayerfully consider how much to leave your adult children. This is a very personal matter and not one that should be determined by lawmakers in your state.

You may have parents, siblings, other relatives, or dear friends you want or need to help. Only by having a will can you leave assets to these individuals in the way that is most appropriate for their situations.
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Your will may enable you to reduce or eliminate estate taxes.
Having a will prepared by a knowledgeable attorney allows you to take advantage of laws that can reduce or eliminate estate taxes and allows you to decide from whose share of the estate any potential estate taxes will be paid.

Your will enables you to name your executor or personal representative. Your executor is the person who will manage your estate, pay any creditors, and ultimately distribute your estate according to your instructions. If you die without a will, the courts will decide who will carry out this responsibility. Additionally, if there is no will, the courts will typically remain more closely involved in the probate process, which can dramatically increase the cost of administering an estate.

Your will enables you to make gifts to charitable organizations that are important to you.

If you do not have a will, you will not be able to leave anything to charitable organizations. A will allows you to make gifts to organizations that hold meaning for you.
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Preparing a Will is Serious Business
A responsibility this important should not be taken lightly. A reputable attorney should always be retained to prepare your will. Buying a printed form and inserting your desires in the blanks is very risky. A will should be tailor-made to fit your particular needs, circumstances, desires, and estate planning problems, as well as comply with the laws of the state where you live. It is sad to know that many people will spend more time and money on having one year's income-tax return prepared than they will spend on a document that distributes everything they own to those people and causes for which they care.

Even if a do-it-yourself will is valid, your directions may not accomplish your desires. For example, your assets could increase, decrease, or change character dramatically during your life. Beneficiaries could die or their circumstances could change. Tax laws could change, and those you love most could lose out. Attorneys prepare wills or codicils that protect you from some of these concerns and make appropriate modifications when necessary.

An attorney should also supervise the execution and witnessing of your will. Without observing proper formalities, your will could be invalid.
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Changes to Your Will
When changes to a will are necessary, it is equally important that an attorney prepare them. Changes made in handwriting to an existing will can make those portions invalid and risk invalidating the entire will. You should review your will and consult your attorney when any of the following situations occur: changes in family status (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, etc.), significant changes in your financial picture, or major changes in gift or estate tax laws. Even if none of these situations have occurred, it is a good idea to review your will every three to five years to make sure it still accomplishes your desires. If you decide to make changes in your will, you should consult an attorney about the most efficient way to fulfill your purposes.
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Leaving a Legacy of Faith
You have been taught about giving back to God a portion of your income with which He has blessed you. But little is said about considering a final act of stewardship, for instance, leaving a portion of your estate to charitable causes as a legacy to express your thanks to God in a tangible way for the blessings of your life.

Any charitable bequest should be prayerfully considered, and you should give to the cause or causes that God places on your heart. If it is your desire to partner with WMU to nurture the future for missions, the following language may be helpful to you and your attorney.

Gift of a Specific Bequest
"I give, devise and bequeath to Woman's Missionary Union Foundation, Birmingham, Alabama, the sum of (spell out the amount), ($________)-or -(# of) shares of the common stock of XYZ Corporation, Certificate Numbers _______, to be used for the general purposes of Woman's Missionary Union, Auxiliary to Southern Baptist Convention."

You may also choose to specify how your gift will be used instead of referring to the general purposes of WMU. Some examples include: • WMU Vision Fund • Second Century Fund • Touch Tomorrow Today (an endowment partnership between national WMU and your state WMU).

Percentage Bequest
"I give, devise and bequeath to Woman's Missionary Union Foundation, Birmingham, Alabama, ____% of the rest and residue of my estate, to be used for _______________________."

Residuary Bequest
"I give, devise and bequeath to Woman's Missionary Union Foundation, Birmingham, Alabama, the rest and residue of my estate, to be used for __________________________."

Contingent Bequest
"In the event that my (insert name or names; i.e., spouse, children, sibling, heirs) shall not survive me, or shall die during the administration of my estate, within ___ days from the date of my death, or as a result of a common disaster, then I give, devise and bequeath those beneficiaries' shares of my estate to Woman's Missionary Union Foundation, Birmingham, Alabama, to be used for __________________."

Charitable Trusts
Charitable trusts can be made a part of your will and can provide income to your spouse or other loved ones for the remainder of their lives or a term of years before passing the assets to WMU or other charitable causes. If you are interested in how charitable trusts can be a part of your estate plan, contact the WMU Foundation.
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For more information, please contact the WMU Foundation at:

This information in not intended as specific advice. Consult your attorney when considering any legal matter.

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