|
|
|
|
|
Life is a time of preparation for eternity, and the link between the two is death. Spiritually, our purpose in life is to prepare ourselves for God's everlasting Paradise. Materially, it is but a span of time during which we make use of God's resources to satisfy our basic needs. Even though our spiritual preparation is the most important one, we do have a duty toward our loved ones to put our material affairs in order. If we own anything at all, that constitutes an estate, and we should decide on its distribution while we are capable of doing so. If we don't, the government will do it for us, and that could result in large amounts of taxes and court costs, not to mention the emotional strain it could have on the ones we leave behind. A will is a legal document stating how we want our estate to be divided upon our death. It can be as simple as in our own handwriting, with no witnesses required; or it can be in the form of a typewritten will, in which case two persons (who are not beneficiaries) must witness it. Because the laws governing wills may vary in different regions of the country, and because the wording of a will can affect how an estate is distributed and taxed, many seem to feel that the best way is to have one drawn up by a lawyer. Regardless of the manner in which we do it, the important thing is to have one. It is also very important that we check it from time to time, particularly when a major change occurs in our life or in the status of our beneficiaries. If, after you have provided for your loved ones, you would like to leave part of your estate to alleviate the suffering of destitute people, it would be so encouraging. Some of our benefactors have already done so, by making specific bequests in their last will and testament using wording such as:
Others, after having willed specific items or sums of money to other beneficiaries, have made residual bequests in the following manner:
|
|
The Call of the Poor
|
