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The Florida Grantor, Fall 2006

Endowment News

Making Your Legacy Known

Every year the vast majority of Americans who die do so without having prepared a valid Last Will and Testament. For the past three decades the numbers hover between 70 and 80 percent.

This statistic is especially astounding since state and federal laws provide some significant incentives for the preparation of a Will. These incentives are designed to make it easy for very personal wishes to be known and followed - wishes that deal with child custody, property distribution and a legacy of values. Not to mention the fact that, in many cases, a carefully planned Will serves to actually minimize costs related to settling an estate and that your charitable wishes are fulfilled.

Creating a Will

While almost all of the reasons for procrastinating are understandable, none will serve to lessen the reality that the absence of a Will can have a devastating impact on an estate. Here is a look at what constitutes a valid Will that can stand up under the Probate process:

• A Will must be signed by a person of legal age. In most states this is age 18.
• The document must be the product of a person with full capacity to state their Will.
• The document must have been created with full intent of taking effect at death.
• A Will must be signed free of fraud, undue influence, duress or coercion.
• Most states require that the Will be signed in front of witnesses.

These simple steps are all that is required to constitute a valid Will. Obviously, more complex estates require more care in drafting the document. In any event, it is recommended that individuals consult their attorneys to guard against anything that might delay the process of probating an estate. Your Will is your opportunity to carefully articulate your wishes, your values and your legacy.

If you would like more information, please call Mike Campbell at 1(888) 838-2253 or mike@abletrust.org.

To learn more about The Able Trust's Endowment Department, please visit www.myabletrust.org.

Passion, Dedication and Service
The Able Trust Honors Maryanne Ward

With a passion for disability advocacy, Maryanne Ward dedicated her life of service to empowering others and sharing her love of the arts with the community. That passion inspired her to leave a legacy to help people with disabilities achieve their goals by establishing an Endowment with The Able Trust.

"Maryanne lived a productive and fruitful life, said Arthur Ward, widower of Maryanne. "Her legacy for supporting and serving individuals with disabilities will live on through the lives of those she's touched and continues to touch."

To learn more about The Able Trust Endowment Program, please visit www.myabletrust.org.