Five Great Reasons to Have a Will | Iowa United Methodist Foundation

March 13, 2019

1. Your will gives you the ability to choose who will care for your young children.

 Without a will, a Court will appoint a guardian to any minor children you have, and it may not be the person you would have chosen.

2. Your will gives you the power to select who will be trusted to complete your affairs after your death.

 If you do not have a will, any person interested in your estate could become the personal representative. It may not be the person you would have selected, and it may not be someone who has your interests in mind.

3. Your will gives you the power to designate how your possession will be distributed.

 If you don’t have a will, state law determines who your beneficiaries are, based on marriage and bloodlines. State law will never assume you wanted to make a gift to your church unless it is clearly spelled out in a valid will.

4. Your will is one of the ways to leave a legacy.

 Your will can serve as a testament to your Christian beliefs. You can include a Christian Preamble that gives voice to your faith, and then provides bequests to benefit your church and other charities so that your actions illustrate your faith.

5. You will is a gift to those who are left behind.

Without a will, you may place unnecessary burdens on those who will care for your estate. A will provides the assurance to your loved ones that they are carrying out your wishes.

How can the Foundation help you? Call us at 515-974-8927 or email us at [email protected] to set up a time to meet to plan your will and consider the possibilities of how to include a trust to benefit the church or charity of your choice. We can also send examples of bequest language and other tips your way.