Every August, National Make-A-Will Month takes place to remind and encourage Americans to create or update their Last Will and Testament. The movement aims to destigmatize estate planning and protect families by ensuring that important end-of-life and asset-distribution wishes are officially documented. According to a 2026 survey conducted by Caring.com, only about 24% of Americans currently have a will, marking a steady decline over the last several years.
Planning for the future is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. A comprehensive estate plan ensures your assets, accounts, and financial legacy are managed according to your wishes, even if life takes unexpected turns. While a legal professional is essential for creating official estate planning documents, Heritage Valley provides support in managing accounts and coordinating with your plan.
Estate Planning Made Easy – Join Our Live Webinar.
Not sure if you need a Will or a Trust? We’ve got you covered! Heritage Valley has partnered with Trust & Will to host a free educational Estate Planning 101 webinar on August 12th at 7pm ET. Learn why estate planning is essential and how to protect your family, assets, and legacy – all in one informative session.
The webinar will be hosted by Kate Teal, Assistant General Counsel at Trust & Will. This informative session will cover:
• What is estate planning and why it is important
• Key differences between a Will and a Trust
• How to determine the best plan for individual needs
• Steps to create a legally binding estate plan with Trust & Will
This is your chance to ask questions and take proactive steps towards securing your future. As a credit union member, you get exclusive savings of 20% on any estate plan with Trust & Will through Love My Credit Union Rewards.
Click here to register for the webinar on August 12th at 7pm ET >
Most Americans Know They Should Have an Estate Plan. The Majority Have Not Made One.
An estate plan is a legal blueprint detailing how your assets will be managed and distributed. It covers what happens to your property and who makes decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated or pass away. Think of your estate plan as a roadmap that reduces uncertainty and helps safeguard your loved ones during challenging times.
A well-designed estate plan can provide numerous benefits:
- Protect your home and savings
- Ensure your inheritance goes to the right people
- Possibly avoid lengthy or costly legal processes like probate, the court-supervised procedure that validates a will and oversees asset distribution
- Prepare for life events that may impact your family or finances
Key documents in an estate plan, which must be created with an attorney or legal professional, include:
- Last Will and Testament: Your will specifies who inherits your assets and who will care for your dependents. It ensures that your wishes are legally recognized and provides guidance for the distribution of property that isn’t held in a trust.
- Trust: A trust is a legal arrangement that allows a third party, known as a trustee, to hold and manage assets on behalf of beneficiaries according to specific instructions. Trusts can be used to control how and when assets are distributed, may provide management if you become incapacitated, and address complex family or financial situations.
- Advance Healthcare Directive & Power of Attorney: These documents designate trusted individuals to make medical and/or financial decisions on your behalf if you cannot. A living will outlines your preferences for medical treatment, while a medical power of attorney appoints someone to make healthcare decisions aligned with your wishes.
Working with an estate planning attorney is the best way to create a plan that fits your unique situation. Attorneys can provide a detailed estate planning checklist, explain the differences between a will vs. a trust, help you organize accounts, and advise on strategies such as estate planning for families.
How We Can Help Protect Your Heritage
As a member-focused financial institution, Heritage Valley is here to help you plan for the future. While we do not create legal documents such as wills or trusts, we assist members in managing accounts in coordination with their existing estate plans, ensuring funds are distributed according to their instructions. With our guidance, you can feel confident that your legacy is well-managed and your wishes are honored.
We provide services and guidance designed to help you:
- Organize Your Accounts for Estate Efficiency
Coordinating your wills, trusts, and powers of attorney with your credit union accounts ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes and can help your loved ones access them.- Beneficiary Designations / Payable-on-Death (POD)
- Trust Accounts
- Joint Accounts
- IRAs, including Traditional, Roth, and SEP
- Fiduciary Accounts
- Ensure Smooth Account Transitions
Heritage Valley follows clear procedures for what happens to accounts in the event of death or incapacity. Regularly reviewing account ownership and beneficiary designations ensures your financial setup reflects your estate plan, helping minimize complications for your heirs.
Give Your Loved Ones Clarity and Leave a Legacy That Lasts
Estate planning is important at all stages of life because the unexpected can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Estate planning can be complex, and it tends to get more complex as you grow older. Rather than tackle the finer details of estate planning all at once, start with these three questions:
- What assets do you have?
- How do you want your loved ones to be cared and provided for?
- What are your medical end-of-life wishes?
At Heritage Valley, we help you secure your family’s future with 20% off an estate plan. Trust & Will provides members with an easy and affordable way to create an estate plan online with Will Plans starting at just $159. Trust & Will is the leader in online estate planning and has helped over half a million families secure their legacies. Together, we’re on a mission to help families protect their legacy and give their families peace of mind. Trusts & Wills are ways to say who will receive your assets, each has different ways of distributing those assets, as well as different advantages and disadvantages. Heritage Valley members can get exclusive savings of 20% off any estate plan with Trust & Will. Learn more today and get started >
Understandably, planning your estate and continually updating that plan may feel overwhelming. However, estate planning is one of the best things you can do to protect your interests. You owe that to yourself and your loved ones.
