In the first two parts of this series, I shared my husband’s and my (not-so-painful-after-all) journey to update our will, a task we had been putting off for far too long. Bret and I started by scheduling a meeting with an attorney and gathering all the necessary information, a process that was both eye-opening and surprisingly fun. In part two, I recounted our meeting with the lawyer, where we learned about the importance of keeping our will up-to-date and explored ways to incorporate charitable giving into our estate plan.

A few weeks after our initial meeting, we embarked on the final steps of our will-updating adventure. We found ourselves back in the law office, where our attorney patiently walked us through every detail, double-checking the spelling of names, confirming our chosen guardians, and ensuring our wishes were crystal clear. It was a bit like proofreading a high school term paper, but with much higher stakes!

Once we approved the documents, we carefully added our John Hancocks to the appropriate spots. The lawyer then had his assistant pop in for notarization, making everything official. It felt like a big moment, but also a relief to have this important task checked off our list.

This whole experience was full of unexpected lessons. Who knew estate planning could be so educational? For one, we discovered a little property hiccup. We co-own a small plot of land with our neighbor that we have never formally divided. We were warned that this oversight could lead to a probate nightmare if we didn’t take care of it. So, lesson learned: tackle those loose ends before they become legal headaches!

We were also advised to make any future big-ticket purchases jointly, just to keep things simple and in line with our updated will. It’s like a little insurance policy for our future selves.

But perhaps the biggest “aha” moment came when we talked about giving back to our beloved Mason County. Bret and I are both passionate about this community. It’s where we’ve raised our kids, built friendships, and made countless memories. We wanted our love for this place to continue after we’re gone.

That’s where the Community Foundation came in. Our lawyer explained how we could designate a portion of our retirement accounts to the Foundation. Basically, we just had to contact our retirement account provider and indicate that a percentage (or we could have named a dollar amount) of the account should go to the Community Foundation upon our passing.

Now, I’m not talking about millions here (don’t I wish!); we designated a modest 5%. But when you think about it, if everyone chipped in a little, it could add up to something pretty amazing for Mason County. Like the Foundation often shares, “If we all leave a gift of just 5%, together, we can make a strong, positive impact on our community for many years to come.” In fact, a recent study out of Boston confirmed that if everyone in Mason County gifted 5% to the community by 2055 that would translate to approximately $120 million in gifts!

As we wrapped up our final meeting, Bret and I walked out of the office feeling a whole lot lighter. We had tackled a daunting task, learned some valuable lessons, and even found a way to make a difference in our community.

After our will and beneficiary designations were updated, we shared our plan with the Community Foundation to ensure they understood our wishes. Andrea Large, the executive director (and my boss), explained that we have the opportunity to designate a specific nonprofit or focus area, or we could create a fund for the community that addresses the greatest needs and opportunities in Mason County. We chose the latter, driven by a desire to guarantee our gift remains adaptable to the ever-evolving landscape of our community.  Who can truly predict what Mason County will need in 50, 100 years, or beyond? But Bret and I are deeply gratified knowing that we will continue to impact this place we love so dearly through the Community Foundation we trust, forever.

If you’re still on the fence about creating or updating your will, I encourage you to take the plunge. It’s not as scary as it seems; I promise! If we can do it, you definitely can, too.

Remember, every journey starts with a single step. And through the Community Foundation’s partnership with FreeWill, taking that first step is easy. You can create a legal will online for free. FreeWill is also a great way to gather your thoughts and important information, even if you plan to consult an attorney later on.

Now that Make-A-Will Month has drawn to a close, I encourage you to make a mark on your future. Your loved ones (and your community) will thank you for it.

Happy planning!
Tara Autrey, Community Outreach Specialist for the Community Foundation

P.S. If you missed the first two parts of our series, be sure to check them out here and here. They’re full of insights that might inspire you to take the plunge and create or update your own will.