Did you know that August is National Make-a-Will Month?
This is a good time to think about your end-of-life wishes, which is hard to do but necessary. Now is a good time to take the next step and make that will so your loved ones are protected in the event of your untimely demise.
Thanks to a partnership between Shirley’s House of Hope and FreeWill, you can even get your will done for FREE in August or anytime. “Imagine letting the courts decide who your children live with, or who your estate will be given to, if you die,” said Tammy Redetzke, Development Director for Shirley’s House of Hope.
“Your loved ones are already dealing with your loss; now add the struggle and frustration of dealing with your assets and having no clear path for which way to go. You may also think to yourself ‘I don’t have enough assets to worry about,’ but if you own a house, a car, a checking account, family heirlooms or have a job that offers benefits, such as life insurance and/or a retirement account, then you absolutely have assets and should make a will.”
“For me, making a will was always on my to-do list,” said Angela Loucks, Development Associate at Shirley’s House of Hope. “It was on my to-do list for over 20 years! Every time my husband and I experienced a life milestone, bought a house, had a baby, started a new job, I knew we needed a will even more.”
“And then suddenly, that baby graduated high school! Life is busy – making a will takes precious time, and hiring a lawyer is expensive. Also, who wants to think about their own mortality?”
Rachel Zurakov, a shelter employee at Shirley’s House of Hope, recently experienced the passing of a close family member who also did not have a will. “I just recently made my will,” said Rachel.
“It was a smooth process. Unfortunately, things happen in life… when a loved one passes it can put a strain on the family. I know from experience. I just encourage everyone to check out FreeWill and get it done!”
Some of the advantages of creating a will with FreeWill is that it is FREE, it doesn’t take long (some people finish in 20 minutes) and you do not need to learn legal terms to complete it.
FreeWill takes you through the steps, asking questions in laymen’s terms, and in the end you download a PDF formatted as a legal document. Additionally, if you need support from FreeWill, you can send a message; or if you have general questions about the process you can contact Shirley’s House of Hope.
We can help you:
- get started (suggest information to have handy before you begin).
- consider some of the options you will be asked.
- learn about other FREE services offered through FreeWill.
August is a good time to give your will some attention, but please note, SHOH’s partnership with FreeWill makes it available year-round. So, if making your will in August just isn’t in the cards, relax and visit our website anytime you are ready! https://shirleyshouseofhope.org/
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