Maybe you are ready to put together a will and an estate plan. But where do you start?
In the classic film White Christmas, Bing Crosby sings to comfort Rosemary Clooney with the words,
“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep.”
A well-loved hymn called “For the Beauty of the Earth” conveys a similar thought:
“For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.”
At the risk of being totally cliché, one way to get started on your will and estate plan is to count your blessings. Seriously! Consider all God has given you—including people, property, and passions for Kingdom work. And as you call these blessings to mind, thank the Lord for them and write them down. Your list of blessings can then be divided into two smaller lists: beneficiaries (the people and ministries you want to give to from your estate) and assets (what you have to give).
Once you’ve made your list of blessings and divided them up into beneficiaries and assets, the next step is working with a professional who can help you draft the necessary documents. You may have a financial and legal adviser who can help with this, but if not, please contact us. We would be glad to connect you with experienced professionals who have helped thousands of Christians through this process.
