Will Planning
On average, a person works more than 40 years to accumulate
assets and spends 10 years conserving what has been earned.
Ironically, most people do not even spend two hours planning for the
disbursement of those assets after their death. The chaos that often
occurs following the death of a loved one can be burdensome. This burden
can be eased, however, through proper planning. A key element of proper
planning is the implementation of an estate plan. A will forms the
basis of any estate plan.
A Guide to Planning Your Will and Trust
A Guide to Planning Your Will and Trust is designed to encourage
you to think about how you want your assets to be distributed at death
and assist you in gathering the information your attorney will need to help you accomplish your goals. Click the link to download a copy.
Brochures
What is it about the preparation of one’s personal wishes – what
the last will and testament really is – that Americans avoid in such
resounding numbers? Voice of a Legacy & Will Your Will Be Known? examine a few possible reasons
and then take a brief look at how easily a valid will can be created. Click the links for more information.
Sample Bequest Language
Joe and Anna have been faithful supporters of Berry for years.
After talking it over, they decided to leave a bequest in their will.
Follow this link to read their story and view sample bequest language for
a variety of needs - Bequests for Scholarships.
If We Had Only Known
Berry recently received a surprise bequest of $10,000 from the
estate of a woman we had never thanked. Of course, we appreciated the
gift immensely.
Designated for scholarships, it will certainly help us accomplish
our mission, but we feel somewhat cheated because we never had the
opportunity to express our gratitude to this gracious and generous person. We were
unable to let her know how much her gift would mean. If we had only
known, we could have said, "Thank you." For this reason and others, we encourage our friends to
let us know when they include Berry in their estate plans. Not only can
we express our appreciation, but we also can make sure they are kept up
to date with developments at Berry. The Berry Heritage Society was established to recognize those who include Berry in
their estate plans. Members receive informational updates and invitations to select events throughout the year.
Have you named Berry in your estate plan? If so, please contact Helen Lansing at hlansing@berry.edu or 877-461-0039 (toll free). Thank you!