WILLS & TRUSTS
Leave More Than an Inheritance.
Create an estate plan that cares for the people you love, reflects your faith, and can continue your generosity for generations.
A THOUGHTFUL ACT OF STEWARDSHIP
Your Estate Plan Can Care for What Matters Most.
A will or trust can provide clarity for your family while helping you steward the people, resources, and convictions God has entrusted to you.
Care for Loved Ones
Provide clear direction for the people and responsibilities entrusted to your care.
Communicate Your Wishes
Name the people who should carry out your plan and document your intentions clearly.
Continue Your Kingdom Impact
Include your church, The Alliance, or other ministries in the legacy you leave.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS
Will or Trust? Start With Your Goals.
Both can play an important role in an estate plan. The right approach depends on your family, assets, wishes, and state law.
A Will May Help You:
Name the people or organizations that will receive assets governed by your will
Choose an executor to carry out your instructions
Name guardians for minor children, subject to court approval
Include charitable gifts as part of your estate plan
A Revocable Living Trust May Help You:
Manage assets that have been transferred into the trust
Provide continuity if you become unable to manage trust assets
Potentially keep properly titled trust assets outside probate
Create more detailed instructions for future distributions
Not sure which path may fit your situation? Orchard Alliance can help you begin the planning process and determine whether you should work directly with an attorney.
INCLUDING MINISTRY IN YOUR PLAN
Three Simple Ways to Leave a Legacy Gift
A charitable gift can be structured in several ways, allowing you to choose an approach that supports your family and reflects your priorities.
01
A Specific Gift
Leave a particular dollar amount or identified asset to The Alliance or another ministry.
02
A Percentage Gift
Designate a percentage of your estate, allowing the gift to remain proportional as your estate changes.
03
A Residual Gift
After providing for loved ones and other commitments, leave some or all of what remains.
You can care for your family and support ministry. These goals do not have to compete.
YOUR COMPLETE ESTATE PLAN
What Can Be Part of Your Legacy?
Your plan may include a variety of assets, each of which should be coordinated with your legal documents and beneficiary designations.
Investments
Real Estate
Financial Accounts
Retirement Assets
Life Insurance
Digital Assets
Personal Property
Important: Some assets may pass according to beneficiary designations, account agreements, or ownership arrangements rather than your will. Reviewing these designations is an important part of a coordinated estate plan.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
Getting Started May Be Simpler Than You Think.
01
Gather
List your family members, assets, ministries, and the important wishes you want your plan to communicate.
02
Plan
Use the no-cost online planning resources or work with Orchard Alliance’s Gift & Estate Design team.
03
Complete
Execute the appropriate documents under your state’s laws and update beneficiary designations as needed.
A LEGACY OF GOSPEL IMPACT
Your Faith Can Keep Moving Forward.
Through a legacy gift, the resources God has entrusted to you can continue helping send workers, strengthen churches, develop leaders, and take the gospel to people who have yet to hear.
NO-COST PLANNING RESOURCES
You Don’t Have to Plan Your Estate Alone.
Choose the starting point that feels right for you. You can begin online or speak with someone before taking your next step.
Begin Your Will or Trust Plan
Answer a few questions to identify the planning resource that may best fit your situation.
Talk With a Planning Specialist
Schedule a complimentary conversation with Orchard Alliance’s Gift & Estate Design team.
PLANNING RESOURCES
Helpful Tools for Your Next Step
Use these resources to organize your information and coordinate the different parts of your estate plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions About Wills and Trusts
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Estate planning is not only about the size of your estate. A will can name an executor, identify beneficiaries, nominate guardians for minor children, and provide clear instructions for property governed by the will.
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If you die without a valid will, state law generally determines how assets governed by probate are distributed. The result may not reflect your personal, family, or charitable wishes.
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A will provides instructions that generally become effective at death. A revocable living trust can hold and manage assets during your lifetime and after death. Whether a trust avoids probate depends in part on state law and whether assets were properly transferred into the trust.
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Consider reviewing your plan periodically and after significant life events such as a marriage, divorce, birth, death, relocation, major financial change, or change in charitable priorities.
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Yes. Many estate plans provide for loved ones first and include a specific, percentage, or residual charitable gift. Your legal and financial advisors can help you evaluate an approach appropriate for your circumstances.
BEGIN YOUR PLAN
Start Your Legacy With a Plan.
Your estate plan can bring clarity to your family today and create Kingdom impact long after your lifetime.
Call: (844) 613-2295 Email: willplanning@orchardalliance.org