Five Important Reasons to Have a Will

There must be powerful reasons to avoid having a will because so many people die without one. In case you happen to be one of the seven out of 10 who will depart without a will, here are five reasons to buttress your position. You can use these to help you sleep tonight.

1. The court can do a better job deciding how to disburse your assets than you can.
2. The court can choose a better personal representative to handle your estate during probate than you can.
3. The court can choose a more caring guardian for your minor children than you can.
4. The government will use your estate tax dollars more efficiently than your favorite charity would use a charitable bequest.
5. Your grieving loved ones will be better off looking after your affairs without your will.

Powerful reasons? Hardly. Nonetheless, people unwittingly affirm these reasons year after year as they continue to put off the minor inconvenience of making a will.

Your friends at the Avera Foundation urge you to take action now. Your family will appreciate it. The charities you support will appreciate it. And you will appreciate the peace of mind you get from fulfilling one of your most important stewardship responsibilities.

Like many people, you may be uneasy about going to an attorney. Yet, an attorney who specializes in estate planning knows the right questions to ask and the best ways to help you accomplish your goals. These professionals are well-trained and normally well worth the time and expense they require.

If you need an estate planning attorney, we will assist you with a suggested list of names and addresses of professionals we have worked with in the past. Jerry Soholt, Executive Director, can help you with this. It will provide you with helpful printed material on making a will and, if you like, supply information on ways you can include charitable giving in your plans.

While you will still need to meet with your professional advisor for expert counsel, an advance meeting or two with Jerry will prove useful and could save costs by helping you make the best use of your attorney's time. Our services are available to you without any obligation whatsoever. You can contact Jerry Soholt at our Foundation office by calling (605) 322-4750.

Caring for the disposition of your assets is too important to delay. It's important for you, for your loved ones and for the Avera Health Foundation.

Would you like to learn more about making a will? Simply fill out the response form and mail it to us. And while you're at it, please let us know whether you have included (or intend to include) the Avera Foundation in your estate plans. This information helps us plan more effectively for the future.