Divi Test
Estate Planning
Every family needs a plan. Find the one that fits yours.
Whether you need a straightforward will or you're ready to build a lasting gift to ministry, WatersEdge can help you take the next step — starting today.
Create a Simple Will
You want the essentials in place — who receives what, and who cares for your children. No charitable gift right now.
- Legally valid will for your state
- Name guardians and an executor
- Healthcare directive and power of attorney
- Update it anytime at no cost
Provided by WatersEdge through GiftWise
An Estate Plan That Includes a Gift
You want to leave a portion of your estate to your church, a ministry, or another Kingdom cause you love.
- Everything in Option 1, plus
- Name a ministry from our approved partner list
- Designate a percentage, dollar amount, or specific asset
- A WatersEdge advisor helps structure the gift
Provided through WatersEdge
Talk With an Advisor
Your situation needs a professional's eye — a trust, a business, property in several states, or a blended family.
- One-on-one review of your goals
- Trusts, charitable gift annuities, endowments
- Business succession and farm transitions
- Coordination with your attorney and CPA
A WatersEdge Advisor will reach out
Question 1 of 4
Would you like your plan to include a gift to your church, a ministry, or another charity?
Even a small percentage can make a lasting difference. You can change this later.
Do you already have a revocable living trust, or has an attorney recommended one for you?
A trust is a separate legal arrangement that holds your assets. If you're not sure, that's perfectly normal — choose the last option.
Do any of these describe your situation?
Check all that apply — or choose "None of these" to continue.
Which best describes what you're looking for right now?
There's no wrong answer — this just helps us set expectations.
Your recommended starting place
Option 1 — Create a Simple Will
Based on your answers, a straightforward online will should cover what you need. It's free, takes about 20 minutes, and you can update it anytime.
Your recommended starting place
Option 2 — Plan a Will That Includes a Gift
You can create your will online at no cost and name a ministry from our approved partner list. A WatersEdge advisor is available to help you decide how much to give and how to structure it.
Your recommended starting place
Option 3 — Talk With an Advisor
Your situation involves details an online tool can't handle well. A WatersEdge advisor can review your goals with you — at no cost — and coordinate with your attorney and CPA so nothing falls through the cracks.
Before You Begin
Please read and acknowledge the following.
- This is a document preparation tool, not legal advice. WatersEdge Advisors is not a law firm and does not practice law. GiftWise is an independent online service. Neither provides legal, tax, or investment advice. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney or tax professional.
- Your will is not valid until you sign it. After you finish, you must print your documents and sign them exactly as the instructions direct — in most states that means signing in front of two adult witnesses who are not named in your will, and often a notary. Keep the signed originals somewhere your family can find them.
- Review your plan when life changes. Marriage, divorce, a birth or death, a move to another state, or a significant change in assets can all affect your documents.
- Charitable gifts. If you name a ministry, please use the legal name shown on our approved ministry partner list so your gift reaches the right organization.
Encourage Gifts to Ministry with an Estate Planning Event.
For most Christians, the best opportunity to make a significant financial gift to Kingdom work comes when they die, through their estate. That’s why charitable estate planning is such an important part of biblical stewardship and an essential tool for churches, ministries, Christian organizations and institutions.
To develop this giving pathway, WatersEdge offers estate planning seminars, emphases, and events to educate prospective donors and assist them with creating or updating their plans. These events are designed to encourage estate gifts to your church or organization and are fully customizable, depending on your unique needs. Best of all, WatersEdge estate planning services are provided at no cost to your church or organization or to the individuals and families who create charitable estate plans.
Go Deeper
Estate Planning Basics
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.
Legal Fee Reimbursement
Legal Fee Reimbursement Qualifications
- If you wish to specify a percentage of your estate as a gift to ministry, then the percentage must be at least 10 percent of your estate to qualify for legal fee reimbursement.
- If you wish to specify a specific dollar amount from your estate as a gift to ministry, then the amount must be $50,000 or greater to qualify for legal fee reimbursement.
- Ask the WatersEdge estate planning team about other giving options that can qualify your estate plan for legal fee reimbursement, including gifts made during your lifetime or gifts made through a retirement account or life insurance.
Ministry Partners
Not all WatersEdge ministry partners are listed on our website, so please ask our estate planning team if you’re unable to find a ministry you wish to support. We frequently add new ministry partners, including some like-minded ministries not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. However, if you desire to support a ministry or organization whose purpose or ideology conflicts with Southern Baptists’ core beliefs as expressed in The Baptist Faith and Message, we may be unable to assist you.
