By Don Parker, NRLC Development Director
The other day, a long-time member of National Right to Life called with some questions. He and a relative both wanted to re-do their wills and designate National Right to Life as the main beneficiary. In fact, since one of the two didn’t have a spouse or children, that person’s entire estate was going to be given to National Right to Life.
Such amazing generosity to the unborn isn’t uncommon. Many people view their will as a way to continue their charitable giving well beyond their years. What better way to continue saving babies’ lives and leave a deep and lasting legacy for generations to come?
Should I have a will?
It is said nearly every adult should have a will. Absent one, a probate court judge will probably determine where your assets go and how they are distributed. And those decisions by a probate court might be entirely different than your intentions.
You should consult an attorney to make your will, but it need not be a very expensive process. Let the attorney know what assets you have or anticipate having through investments, pensions, inheritances you might receive, etc.
By sharing with an attorney you trust your views will be clear how you’d like some part of your bequest to leave a legacy of help for others – perhaps to your church or to charities or organizations you want to help like National Right to Life.
Few people want to leave those decisions up to a court obligated to follow distribution criteria set by state law. Those standards could mean your assets go to lawyers’ fees that could have been avoided if you’d had a will, and to court costs.
Trusts
Lawyers might advise some holders of larger estates to put part of their holdings in one of a number of trust arrangements provided for in their state’s laws. These are designed to make sure the assets remaining get to the family members and charities the person designates. But for most people with estates valued at under a million dollars, their will is likely to be a relatively straightforward document listing potential assets and a plan of distribution to loved ones, charities and causes.
Annuities
Another form of “planned giving” that can benefit some individuals and their favored charities is an annuity. Some people who come into a large amount of cash, say from the sale of a home or investment, or from an inheritance, want to invest that money in a way that will give them continued income. An annuity is set up to do exactly that. National Right to Life has an annuity program in which the cash base is donated to National Right to Life, and from that cash base, the donor receives an ongoing monthly income for the rest of his or her life. Rates and amounts vary by age and amount of donation, so if you’d like more information, please contact National Right to Life’s Development Department at 202-626-8813 or email us at development@nrlc.org.
Whether you choose to give through a will, a trust your lawyer designs for you, or through a planned giving option like an annuity, you can leave a legacy that includes unborn babies saved, and a culture with a growing respect for life. Just another way you can make an enormous difference . . . for Life!