Planned Giving and Trust Services

Establish a legacy that can make a difference!

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What We Do…

We assists members and friends of the church in providing for their family and God’s work through trusts, wills, gift annuities, and other special gifts. The conference arranges and pays for the services of an attorney for consultation and document preparation. Family, Wisconsin Conference, Wisconsin Academy, local churches and schools benefit greatly from these arrangements.

“The Earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell within.” Psalm 24:1

Learn the Basics of Estate Planning

Learn the Options of Estate Planning

Wisconsin Conference Planned Giving & Trust Services Department

Take the Quiz: What Do You Know About a Will?

Learn the Basics

How Does it Work?

Here’s How We Help

What is the Cost to Me?

Benefits of Having an Estate Plan of Your Own

Wisconsin Conference Ministries That Have Benefited From a Legacy Gift

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“In disposing of your property by will (or trust) to your relatives, be sure you do not forget God’s cause. You are His agents, holding His property; and His claims should be your first consideration.” EGW

HOW DOES IT WORK

It has been the ministry of the Wisconsin Conference Planned Giving Department for over 50 years to assist our members and our friends with the preparation of several important legal documents such as a Will, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts that help avoid probate court, Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Power of Attorney for Finance, and more.

HOW DO WE HELP?

At your request we have a brief and confidential visit with you to share information on the importance of these documents and estate planning that fits your God-given goals. We gather information the estate attorney needs to formulate your documents. You will have a consultation with an attorney (who will be your attorney for the purpose of your estate planning) before having an opportunity to review and approve your documents. Then we will print and prepare your documents and get them to you for notarizing & signing. We will help you every step of the way! It’s that simple!

WHAT IS THE COST?

As Seventh-day Adventist Christians we recognize that the God of Heaven owns all things (Psalm 24:1). He empowers His people with the ability to gain wealth (Deut. 8:18) and He entrusts them with His multiplied blessings of time, talents, and possessions Matt. 6:21). THIS ESTATE PLANNING SERVICE IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE to church members whom, after providing for their families, have a desire to leave a gift (no specific amount is stipulated) for the advancement of God’s work here in Wisconsin.

BENEFITS OF HAVING AN ESTATE PLAN OF YOUR OWN?

You can protect your assets and help provide for your retirement.

You can also provide for & protect your minor children should something unforeseen happen to both parents.

Ensure that your possessions will be distributed as you wish.

Appoint and outline powers of a Personal Representative or Executor.

Appoint Power of Attorney for Health Care and Finances.

Expedite the legal process (avoid cost & time of probate court).

Reduce stress and heartache for loved ones.

Help advance the work of the Three Angels Message/Gospel.

WISCONSIN MINISTRIES THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM A LEGACY GIFT
* Any official WI Conference entity

Local Church & Schools

Wisconsin Academy

Camp Wakonda

Youth Ministries

Evangelism

Radio Ministry

NEW WA Endowment Fund

WI Conference of SDA

Small schools in WI

YOUR PLAN?

Pray about it. What does God want you to do?

Five Basic Estate Planning Documents

WILL

Your will is a written document, signed by you and typically by two witnesses. In some states, your signature is witnessed by a notary. It will be used to determine the distribution of your property. Without a will, the court often ignores your desires and follows state law to distribute your assets and appoint guardians for minor children.

With a will, you can choose who will inherit your property and who will administer your estate as executor. If you have minor children, you can choose a guardian. A guardian is someone who will care for your minor children. A will is an essential part of transferring your property at the right time to the right people. Without a will, your beneficiaries may encounter increased costs, delays and unnecessary conflicts. You can provide a great legacy for family and the Lord’s work with a sound estate plan.

DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTHCARE

A durable power of attorney for healthcare allows you to select a person who can help make healthcare decisions if you are incapacitated. You may have a serious medical condition, and the doctor will need healthcare advice. Your designated holder of a durable power of attorney for healthcare can help you receive high-quality care.

DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES

When you sign your will, you usually can manage your finances and personal affairs. However, that may not always be the case. There may come a time when you are in poor health and not able to manage your finances. During these times, you will want a plan to ensure your property is being cared for and your bills are being paid.

A durable power of attorney for finances is a solution to protect your property and yourself. A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make financial decisions if you are disabled or incapacitated.

TRUSTS

Estate planning through a trust can provide peace of mind that your assets will be protected and distributed according to your wishes. Establishing a trust offers several potential benefits, including:

Avoiding probate, simplifying and speeding up the distribution of your assets

Providing greater flexibility and control through specific instructions on, not only who receives your assets, but also how (e.g. spread out over time, at the discretion of someone else, etc.)

Minimizing conflict as trust instructions cannot be contested in court, unlike wills

Maintaining privacy by keeping your assets from becoming public record as part of the probate process

Protecting assets from creditors and lawsuits

Minimizing taxes as certain types of trusts can reduce estate, gift or income taxes

There are two main types of trusts: revocable and irrevocable.

Revocable trusts allows you to maintain control of your assets during your lifetime, which the ability to change or revoke the trust at any time after it is created

Irrevocable trusts, on the other hand, cannot be modified. However, protection from creditors and reduced Texes, may be provided only by irrevocable trusts.

LIVING WILL (ADVANCE DIRECTIVE)

A Wisconsin living will, also known as a Declaration to Physicians, is a legal document that states your preferences for medical care if you are unable to speak for yourself such as your preferences for life-sustaining procedures and feeding tubes. To complete a living will you will need two witnesses who are at least 18 years old, not related to you, and not benefiting from your estate. You and the witnesses must sign the document at the same time.

Note: You can also consider completing a power of attorney for health care, which appoints someone to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to communicate.

Other Estate Planning Options

LIVING TRUSTS

If you have a moderate or large estate, you may find it desirable to create a living trust. The living trust is completely within your control during your lifetime. You can add property to the trust or remove property from the trust at any time. If you pass away, the property in the living trust will avoid probate and potentially save thousands of dollars in costs.

CUSTOM ESTATE PLAN FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

A child with special needs may be provided for through a special needs trust. A “special needs” trust will facilitate care of the child by providing resources and directions. In some cases, a child may qualify to receive federal or state benefits if that is helpful in providing care for the “special needs” child.

IRA, 401(k) OR OTHER RETIREMENT PLAN

Your IRA, 401(k) or other retirement plan is transferred by a beneficiary designation. Normally, the beneficiaries should be named on the IRA, and it should be given directly to family or charity, and not to your estate. The IRA or 401(k) custodian should provide a form for you to select a primary and contingent beneficiary.

LIFE INSURANCE

The insurance policy is a contract, and there is a beneficiary designation form. You will select the primary and contingent beneficiary to receive the death benefit if you pass away with a valid insurance policy.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY (GCA)

Many of our friends, especially those age 70 and above, are very interested in fixed payments for life from a charitable gift annuity. If you fund a gift annuity, you receive a substantial income tax charitable deduction and fixed payments for life. A gift annuity may pay for one life or for two lives. For a husband and wife, the payments will last until both have passed away. The remainder is given to your designated charity. For example, a 79-year-old may receive an interest rate at 7.9%.

There are other estate planning options available. . . Just ask us!