Estate Planning

Start your plan today!

Steward God’s Provision Wisely

Everything we have is a gift from God. Kingdom-minded estate planning acknowledges Christians’ role as stewards of these gifts. We’re commanded to use them for His glory during our lifetime and beyond. WatersEdge can help you pass on God’s provision through biblically grounded estate planning that provides for your family and advances ministry.

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The Pattersons Make an Estate Plan. Go Along for the Ride.

Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?

Pass on Possessions

Who will inherit your assets when you die? Without an estate plan, decisions to distribute your property are left to the state.

Impact Ministry

Our greatest opportunity to make a significant financial impact comes when we die. Charitable gifts made through your estate plan allow you to support ministries you care about, advancing the Gospel for generations to come.

Safeguard Young Children

Individuals and couples with dependent children (under age 18) must choose a guardian who will provide care in the event of the parent(s)’ death. Without an estate plan, the state will decide who raises your children.

Specify Health Care Wishes

If illness or severe injury left you incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself, what decisions do you want made about emergency medical treatments like ventilators, feeding tubes and other forms of life support?

Prevent Family Conflict

Unfortunately, disputes over possessions are common when a family member passes away without a will to distribute his or her assets. An estate plan, which includes a will, helps reduce this possibility by detailing how your possessions should be divided.

Minimize Taxes and Fees

Attorney fees, court costs and taxes can reduce the value of the inheritance you leave behind. Careful estate planning can alleviate some or all of these burdens, ensuring more of your assets end up in your beneficiaries’ hands.

Avoid Probate

Probate is the legal process that resolves a person’s estate after he or she dies. This includes distributing property to heirs, paying debts and taxes. Your beneficiaries can bypass probate if you choose to create a trust as part of your estate plan.

Start Here

We’ve been helping individuals and families impact God’s Kingdom through charitable estate planning for more than 50 years. Let our experienced staff guide you through the estate planning process as you seek to protect your family and support ministries that transform lives with the Gospel.

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COMPLETE THE ESTATE PLANNING GUIDEBOOK

Our comprehensive guidebook will help you think through important estate planning decisions and gather relevant information. We recommend completing the guide online, but you can also download a fillable PDF or request a paper copy.

START MY PLAN

 

Have a complex or unique estate planning situation?

LEARN MORE

2

CONNECT WITH OUR ESTATE PLANNING PROFESSIONALS
Once you’ve submitted your guidebook, we’ll review it and reach out to help you answer questions or complete any missing information. You can choose to meet virtually, by phone or in person.

3

FINALIZE YOUR PLAN
We’ll send your guidebook to an attorney of your choice who will draft your estate planning documents. You will then work directly with your attorney to complete and sign your plan. We can recommend an attorney if you don’t have one.

Already Have A Will Or An Estate Plan?

Life changes quickly, which is why we recommend updating your estate plan every 10 years. Start by reviewing this check list of life events that often necessitate changes to a plan. If any apply to you, please complete a new Estate Planning Guidebook, even if you’ve completed one in the past.

 

Why Plan With Us?

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Focus on Giving Back

Our estate planning experience is tailored for those with a desire to provide for their families as well as give back to God when they die, supporting Christian churches, ministries, organizations and institutions working to transform lives with the Gospel.

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Legal Fee Reimbursement

We will reimburse a portion of your legal fees if your estate plan includes a gift to WatersEdge for the benefit of a partnering ministry of your choice. You may choose either a gift of 10 percent of your estate or, a gift of $50,000 or greater. Learn more below or visit our FAQs. See a list of WatersEdge ministry partners at WatersEdge.com/MinistryPartners.

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Experience

For more than 50 years, our certified estate planning professionals have helped thousands of individuals and families create and update plans that protect families and support ministry.

Go Deeper

Estate Planning Basics

An estate plan is a set of essential legal documents that settle critical end-of-life decisions. Your estate plan may include the following:

A. Last Will and Testament 

A legal document that details your wishes for passing on your possessions at your death and names who will care for any minor children (under age 18) you leave behind. This is critical for single parents and for married couples in the event both spouses die.

Your last will and testament also includes your selection of a Personal Representative (also known as an Executor) for your estate. After your death, your Personal Representative will hire an attorney to file your will in probate court, so that assets in your name can be legally transferred to your heirs and other beneficiaries.

Without a will, the state will decide who inherits your belongings and who raises your children.

B. Health Care Power of Attorney

A legal document that grants authority to an individual you choose to act on your behalf regarding health care matters in the event you become incapacitated and cannot make decisions for yourself. This authority is typically given to a spouse or family member. The Health Care Power of Attorney allows this person to access your medical information, work with your doctors to prepare a plan of care, and perform other important tasks on your behalf.

C. Financial Power of Attorney

A legal document that grants authority to an individual you choose to act on your behalf regarding financial matters in the event you become incapacitated and cannot make decisions for yourself. This authority is typically given to a spouse or family member. The Financial Power of Attorney allows this person to pay your bills, access your bank accounts and perform other important tasks on your behalf.

D. Advance Directive for Health Care (“Living Will”)

A legal document that allows you to specify your wishes for end-of-life issues related to the use of life support, ventilators, feeding and hydration tubes, and resuscitation techniques like CPR. An Advance Directive for Health Care also allows you to provide instructions about organ donation.

Life Event Check List

We recommend updating your estate plan every 10 years. If any of the following life events apply to you, please complete a new estate plan.

  • Significant increase or decrease in your assets
  • Receive an inheritance
  • Wedding, divorce or breakup
  • Loss of loved one
  • Birth or adoption of a child or grandchild
  • Children have grown up
  • Loss of your executor, guardians, trustees, etc.
  • Desire to change your executor, guardians, trustees, etc.
  • Desire to provide for a loved one with a mental health issue, disorder, or developmental disability
  • It has been ten years or more since you have reviewed your estate plan

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Complex or Unique Estate Plans

Some estate plans are more complex than others! If any of the following circumstances apply to you, please skip the Estate Planning Guidebook and contact our Estate Planning Team at 800-949-9500 or estateplan@WatersEdge.com.

  • You own an operating business or farm
  • You have retirement plan accounts in excess of $500,000
  • You have estate tax exposure (total net worth in excess of $5 million)
  • You have a complicated or non-traditional distribution plan

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FAQ

To learn more about charitable estate planning with WatersEdge, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.