Leave a Legacy of FAMILY

Nope! There is no legal requirement that a will be drawn up by a lawyer. Most people can use quality, fill-in-the-blank legal documents (found through a provider such as FreeWill) to take care of basic concerns such as leaving their property to loved ones and naming a guardian for young children. However, if you have a complex situation or significant assets, it is highly recommended to work with a lawyer instead of creating an online will.

Most online will sites, like FreeWill, guide you through a simple 3-step process:

1. Answer Questions. You’ll be guided through a series of fill-in-the-blank questions about your wishes regarding your family, your property, who you want to be in charge of making sure your wishes are taken care of. Most people can usually complete it within about 30 minutes.

2. Review Answers. You’ll have an opportunity to review your own answers for completeness and accuracy.

3. Finalize documents. The last step is to print your documents. The online will site will also provide instructions for getting signatures to finalize your documents, as well as storage recommendations.

Here are the most common ways to significantly increase your legacy through your will:

• Add “Charity” to your family. Some families treat charitable organizations like an additional child. For example, if a family has three children, they might add a fourth child named “Charity” and divide the assets in their Will into four equal parts. Each of their children would receive 25%, and the remaining 25% would be divided among their favorite charitable organizations.

• Percentage. Other families commit a percentage of their estate to the charitable organizations they love, dividing the remainder among their heirs.

• Cap. Some families intentionally decide to “cap” their children’s inheritance, leaving the rest of their assets to charity. This approach is used when the parents want to provide a modest gift to their children and eliminate concerns of creating dependence or giving too much too soon.

• Update an existing will. An attorney can add, delete, or change an item in your will with an additional statement called a “codicil.” Here’s an example: “I give, devise, and bequeath twenty-five percent (25%) of my residuary estate to [charity name] whose address is [city, state, zip code]. Like a will, a codicil must be dated, signed, and witnessed.

Not at all. Planned giving isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s for anyone who wants their legacy to reflect the values they lived by. Many people are surprised to learn that even a small percentage of their estate, a life insurance policy, or a retirement account designation can make a significant difference in the life of a child through The Hope Effect.

Whether your gift is modest or substantial, it can help provide family for children around the world. Your legacy doesn’t have to be large to be meaningful. It just needs to come from the heart.

Absolutely! A living trust is created while you're alive, and assets you transfer into it are managed by your chosen successor trustee upon incapacity or death. One major benefit is that trust assets avoid probate, saving time, legal fees, and emotional burden for your loved ones—and it maintains your privacy.

Both tools serve important roles. A will is simpler and necessary if you want to:

• Name a guardian for minor children

• Distribute any assets not placed in a trust

It does, however, go through probate, which can be lengthy and costly.

A living trust, on the other hand:

• Takes effect immediately (no waiting until death)

• Avoids probate entirely

• Allows a trusted person to manage your assets if you become incapacitated

It may require more upfront setup and transferring of assets, and often entails legal fees.

Many people choose both: a trust to manage and transfer most assets, and a “pour-over” will to catch anything not moved into the trust.

Yes! Just list The Hope Effect as a beneficiary—either by percentage, a fixed amount, or a residuary gift. We can help you provide the exact wording and legal name to include.

Please send us a quick email and let us know! We would love to thank you for your generosity.

• Legal Name: The Hope Effect

• Federal Tax ID Number: 47-2624962