American Heart Association
National Make-A-Will Month
Peace of Mind Starts with a Plan
August is National Make-A-Will Month, and thousands of people just like you are creating peace of mind by writing or updating their wills. Creating your will is more than just a legal task. It’s about making thoughtful decisions today so that the people you love don’t have to make them tomorrow.
When your wishes are clear, everything becomes easier.
Did you know that only one-third of Americans currently have a will? Without a will in place, state law dictates who gets your house, savings and other assets instead of letting you provide the direction of your final wishes. A will is important for every adult, regardless of the size of your estate.
Why having a will and estate plan matters:
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For Family – A clear plan helps reduce uncertainty and stress for your loved ones during a difficult time. Whether it’s naming guardians or clarifying your wishes, your plan helps those close to you feel supported even when you can’t be there.
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For a Business or Financial Legacy – If you own a business or significant assets, planning ahead can help ensure a smooth transition and protect what you’ve built so it continues to benefit others in the way you intended.
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For Pets – Pets are part of the family, and a plan can help ensure they are cared for by someone your rust, with the resources needed to support them.
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For the Causes You Love – Your will can be a meaningful way to communicate your values, allowing your support to make an impact for generations to come.
Whether you’re creating your first will or updating an existing plan, National Make-A-Will Month is the best time to start!
Your Legacy, Your Way
Will Planning Kit
Request our popular resource, Legacy of the Heart: Your Will and Estate Planning Workbook. The workbook includes 15 worksheets to help you organize your assets and intentions around this essential document.
Gift Planning Solutions
There are so many ways to create a legacy that is personal to you. Download a suite of digital guides to learn more about different ways you can make a lasting impact.
- Beneficiary Designations
- Charitable Trusts
- Gifts of Business Interests
- Will Bequest
Create Your Free Will
Ready to create your will today? You can create a free, valid will in as little as 20 minutes through our secure online platform.
Your Heart Can Shape the Future
One of the most powerful things you can do with your will is create a personal legacy, defining how you will be remembered. Your will can be a powerful tool for change, ensuring that the fight against heart disease and stroke continues for generations to come.
When you make a gift to the American Heart Association through your will, trust, or another type of estate plan, you become a member of the Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle within the esteemed Cor Vitae Society. This is a community of visionary supporters who have chosen to make a lasting commitment to heart and brain health through their estate plan.
Stories from the Heart
Juli Stone Moran, Cor Vitae Society | Champion’s Circle, Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle
Juli Stone Moran took her first CPR class at just seven years old. With a father who was a professor in exercise science and wellness, it was one of many activities Moran and her siblings did that was focused on heart health.
“I grew up in a household that was all about being active,” Moran said. “My father did a lot of work with the American Heart Association because of his work in cardiac rehabilitation.”
Today, Moran carries on the family tradition of physical activity through running, hiking and an equestrian sport called reining. She also carries on her father’s participation with the American Heart Association.
Moran recently completed her sixth year as a board member for the American Heart Association’s San Diego office, and she has spent nearly 20 years participating in both Go Red for Women and Heart Walk campaigns with Deloitte offices across the country.
“I can’t say enough about the tremendous impact Juli has had on the Heart Association’s work in our community,” said Jessica Newmyer, executive director for the American Heart Association’s San Diego office. “She was an incredible board member, she’s chaired the Go Red for Women campaign multiple times, and she has gone out of her way to host events at Deloitte for the Association and connect incredible new volunteers with our mission.”
Moran said she’s proud of how her company has worked with the Heart Association and leaned into healthy policies, including internal Hands-Only CPR trainings.
In several instances, employees who had only recently learned Hands-Only CPR in a company training had to use those skills in real life.
“It’s incredible how often someone will come back to me in a very short time period and say ‘I had the opportunity to use it, and it made a difference,’” she said.
Moran has included the American Heart Association in her trust. After a lifetime of keeping heart health top of mind, she said it feels good to include the lifesaving work of the Association in her legacy.
“It’s something that’s super easy to do, and it doesn’t cost you anything to name a local organization or nonprofit as a beneficiary of your estate,” Moran said. “It’s a great way to give back to continued research. You know that what you have worked very hard for your whole career will go to something that’s important to you.”