American Heart Association
National Make-A-Will Month
Protect What’s in Your Heart
August is National Make-A-Will Month, a time dedicated to the important task of planning for the future. Creating or updating your will is one of the most meaningful steps you can take for the people and causes you love.
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 everyone regardless of the size of your estate.
This month, we’re empowering you to protect what’s in your heart by writing your will. A will allows you to:
- Ensure your wishes are honored
- Protect the people you love
- Leave a legacy that reflects your values
Whether you're creating your first will or updating an existing plan, National Make-A-Will Month is the best time to act!
Your Legacy, Your Way: Busting Estate Planning Myths & Misconceptions
Wednesday, August 27 | 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT
Think you know the answers to common will and estate planning questions? Find out during our free webinar during National Make-A-Will Month! Our expert speakers will bust common myths about wills and estate planning so that you’re prepared to protect what matters most.
National Make-A-Will Month Resources
Planning Guides
Request complimentary guides designed to help you plan your future with heart:
Legacy of the Heart: Your Will and Estate Planning Workbook
This workbook includes 15 worksheets to help you organize your intentions and your assets. It’s an important first step to protecting your future.
Meet the Moment: A Woman’s Guide to Planning a Secure Future
This interactive planning guide is designed to help every woman create a secure and prosperous future.
Gift Planning Solutions
There’s more than one way to make a lasting impact with your estate plan. Download free digital guides to learn more about different ways you can create your legacy while protecting your loved ones.
- Charitable Bequest (English/Spanish)
- Charitable Trusts (English/Spanish)
- Beneficiary Designations (English/Spanish)
- Protecting Your Pets (English/Spanish)
Create Your Free Plan
The American Heart Association offers a suite of simple, free online tools through FreeWill to help you plan for the future. In as little as 20 minutes, you can create a legally valid will or revocable living trust to ensure peace of mind and security for you and your loved ones.
You can also use the free beneficiary designations tool to plan and organize beneficiaries for your financial accounts. These tools allow you to save time, money and stress for you and your loved ones so you can focus on the present.
Get started today at no cost or obligation!
Your Heart Can Shape the Future
Planning your will is more than a legal task, it’s a chance to shape the future with intention. One of the most meaningful 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.
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 in the Cor Vitae Society. Legacy members embody commitment to a world of longer, healthier lives by ensuring their impact continues for generations to come.
Words from the Heart
“Being an example for my children and for my family is very important, to spark that flame in them, but also to recognize the organization that has been really critical to me in so many different ways. I’m having the conversation with my children because it’s planning that seed of legacy and continued impact, the fact that you can do something very positive in life and in death.”
– Darryl Griffin, Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle member
“I believe in the American Heart Association because of its science and how the organization is bettering people’s lives. With my family history of heart disease and stroke, I wanted to help find a way to cure it. This is my legacy and I want to inspire others.”
– Heidi Roth, Cor Vitae Society and Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle member
“Each person in my family that has heart disease has a different form of heart disease – no two are alike. Heart disease also caused my sister to have a stroke. While the AHA has led the way for many advances, there is still so much we don't know. I hope my gifts pave the way for future advancements.”
– Lindsay Brooks-Shriver, Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle member