August is National Make-A-Will Month, an opportunity to take an important step in caring for yourself, your loved ones, and the legacy you hope to leave behind. While creating or updating a will is an essential part of estate planning, it’s only one piece of a comprehensive plan.
One often-overlooked document is the Catholic Declaration on Life and Death, a health care advance directive approved by the Florida Catholic Conference. This document allows you to designate a health care surrogate and provide guidance for medical decisions if you become unable to speak for yourself. It affirms the dignity of every human life, encourages appropriate medical care, rejects euthanasia and assisted suicide, and expresses your desire to receive spiritual care and the sacraments whenever possible.
“God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them.” — Genesis 1:27
Just as your will reflects how you wish to steward the blessings God has entrusted to you after your lifetime, the Catholic Declaration on Life and Death ensures your health care decisions remain rooted in your Catholic faith. Together, these documents provide peace of mind for you and clarity for those who may one day be called upon to make decisions on your behalf.
Whether you’re beginning your estate plan or updating existing documents, The Catholic Foundation is here to help. Through our partnership with FreeWill, you can create a legally valid will online at no cost. If you’d like to learn more about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Catholic advance directives, and other essential planning documents, we invite you to attend our complimentary Wine & Wills event on August 25th at Bishop Moore Catholic High School, where experienced Catholic estate planning attorneys and philanthropic advisors will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance.
This National Make-A-Will Month, take the opportunity to plan with confidence, protect those you love, and ensure your wishes reflect the faith that has guided your life.