August is National Make-a-Will Month: How you can make a difference at UMD

As summer comes to an end, everyone is busy squeezing in last-minute vacations before transitioning to fall and back-to-school. It’s also a good time to give thought to something a bit more enduring: your estate plan.

August is National Make-A-Will Month. Having a will isn't just for the wealthy or soon to be retired. Surprisingly, only about 42% of Americans have a will or a trust in place. And for those with children under age 18, even fewer – about 36% – have made plans for the future.

Getting started isn’t always easy, and researching resources and trusted advisors can make estate planning feel overwhelming to most people. Your alma mater would like to help by extending a helping hand and offering our free Personal Estate Planning Kit to learn about estate planning basics so you, too, can begin to focus and start on your own plan.

And, as major life events occur, remember that these changes should prompt you to review your and update your plan. Keeping your estate plan current also ensures your assets will go to whomever you wish, whether that's to family, friends, or maybe even Maryland. If you do not have an estate plan in place, the courts make these crucial decisions for you.

So as you wrap up your summer plans, take a moment to also get your estate in order for you and your loved ones. It might not be the most exciting thing on your to-do list, but it's definitely one of the most important life steps you can take.

These fellow Terps are all Founders Legacy Society donors that have chosen to generously support the university’s Fearlessly Forward mission of excellence in everything that we do through their estate plans or other planned gift arrangements.

You too can make our legacy your legacy and keep us Terrapin Strong. Learn how by contacting the Office of Gift Planning at giftplanning@umd.edu. We are here to assist you at no obligation!

P.S. Watch for information about our free estate planning webinars the week of October 21-25!

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