Getting It Together: Making Your Will

National Estate Planning Awareness Week, held annually the third week of October, is a time to highlight the critical importance of estate planning. Creating a will might seem daunting, but it's simpler than you think. With a little preparation, you can secure your legacy and ensure your loved ones are taken care of, including the causes close to your heart, like the Guide Dog Foundation. Let’s break it down into three easy steps that take just a few minutes to read.

Step 1: Make Your Lists
Start by listing your assets. This includes everything from real estate and vehicles to life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and even your cherished possessions like a comic book collection or family heirlooms. Don't forget about your pets—who will care for them when you're gone?

Next, compile a list of important documents: insurance policies, titles, deeds, and any other vital records. Note where these documents are stored so they can be easily accessed when needed.

Finally, create a list of your digital assets. Include online accounts, credit cards, email, social media, and any other digital footprints. Be sure to record usernames, passwords, and PINs. Seal this list in a secure envelope and store it in a safe place, ensuring your spouse, lawyer, or executor knows how to access it.

Step 2: Decide Who Gets What
Now, think about how you'd like to distribute your assets. Consider both your loved ones and your favorite charities. You might decide to leave a bequest to organizations like the Guide Dog Foundation, helping
them continue their vital work. Remember to choose alternates for your beneficiaries in case your first choices are unable to inherit.

Be smart with your legacy. For instance, leaving an IRA to a nonprofit can be more tax-efficient than passing it on to a family member, ensuring the charity receives the full amount.

Step 3: Make Three Key Choices
If you have minor children, select a guardian to care for them if you and their other parent are unable to. You’ll also need a custodian to manage any property or assets left to your children until they come of age.

Your final step is to choose an executor—someone you trust to carry out the terms of your will. Ensure they are willing and able to take on the responsibility and pick an alternate just in case.

And that's it! While some estates are more complex, the basic steps are straightforward. No more excuses—take the time to make your will today and consider supporting causes like the Guide Dog Foundation with a legacy gift.

Secure your future, protect your loved ones, and make a difference.

For more information on planned giving and our Heritage Society, visit Guide Dog Planned Giving or contact Dawn Dioguardo, Director of Development, at Dawn.Dioguardo@guidedog.org or call 631-930-9007.