Make-a-Will Month is also a great reminder that you can name your favorite charities as a beneficiary in your will—such as Special Olympics. By including a gift to charity in your will, you ensure that the causes which have been important to you during your life will continue to thrive for many years to come.
Here are some of the top reasons you need a will, and why you may want to get started during Make-a-Will Month:
- Having an up-to-date will allows you to transfer your assets to loved ones and the causes you care about. (Note that certain assets—like retirement accounts, life insurance policies and financial accounts—transfer separately through a beneficiary designation instead of through your will.) Without a will, the state may decide where your hard-earned and most cherished assets go.
- Having a will allows you to provide and care for loved ones with special needs, minor children, and companion animals. If there is someone in your life with special needs who you want to make sure is taken care of, you may want to consult with an attorney who specializes in this area of law. You can also consult our free resource, Planning When Someone You Love Have Special Needs.
- Having a will lets you choose an executor or trustee, the person who will carry out your instructions and wishes. This should be a close and trusted person because they will have the important task of settling your estate.
If you do decide to create or update your will this month, you’ll find more helpful resources on our website. We also hope that you will consider including a gift to Special Olympics to support our future athletes, so that we can continue to make the world a more inclusive, accepting place for people with intellectual disabilities. And, if you do include a gift for Special Olympics, we hope you will let us know.
