Planned Giving

Essentials

A Will
At your death, a will serves as a road map telling your personal representative how to distribute your assets to other people or to charities. Without a will, you are powerless over how your assets are distributed. Instead, the laws of the state where your residence is, determines how your assets are divided.

Power of Attorney
A general power of attorney permits the holder of the power to act on behalf of another individual grantor, and lapses upon the grantor’s incompetence. A durable power of attorney survives the incompetence of the grantor and allows the holder the power to act.

Living Will or Health Care Proxy
By creating a living will, you can articulate your beliefs on life-sustaining measures. You can name a trusted individual to make health care decisions if you are unable to do so. The health care proxy is used only for medical purposes. Like a living will, the health care proxy states when life support equipment should be disconnected and medical efforts should cease.