Planned Giving
Making a Will
Would You Like to Make a Will?
The Minister of the Congregation is directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision for the well-being of their families, and of all persons to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses (The Book of Common Prayer, Page 445.)
A will is a basic instrument for exercising stewardship of your property. A will is a legal means of providing for the distribution of your temporal goods upon your death.
To facilitate Episcopalians making wills, the Diocese of California sponsors a program that provides for a meeting with an estate planning attorney for the creation of a simple will for the extremely modest cost of $75. This fee is simply to partially reimburse the volunteer attorney for word processing costs.
- These appointments for writing a will are hosted at parishes in different areas of the Diocese of California. They take place on Saturday mornings between 9 a.m. and noon. An appointment generally lasts 45 minutes. You are asked to fill out and bring with you the questionnaire that you receive upon making your appointment.
- Your conversation with your attorney and the contents of your will are completely confidential, a matter of attorney-client privilege. You are encouraged to consider including the church in your will but this is entirely up to you.
- A will is not a complete estate plan, but it may be a good place to start. The attorney will inform you of other estate planning steps-such as an Advance Directive for Healthcare-that you may wish to consider.
- The will preparation cost is $75.00 per person ($150 per couple).
- To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact Shari Gonzales at 415.869.7813, [email protected]
| 2013 Scheduled Will Writing Sessions | ||||
| Date | Times | Church | Address | City |
| October 5, 2013 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm | St. Alban's | 1501 Washington Ave. Albany, CA 94707 510-525-1716 | Albany |
Will-preparation questionnaire
This questionnaire will help you to assemble information that your attorney will need in order to prepare your will. You should bring the completed questionnaire to your appointment with the attorney.
Attorneys
- Daniel B. Leraul, San Ramon, [email protected], 925.820.3008
- Martha Daetwyler, San Francisco, [email protected]
- Thomas Worth, San Francisco, [email protected], 415.434.2226
- Katherine Murphy, Berkeley, [email protected], 510.845.8737
- Thomas Burcham, Lafayette, [email protected], 925.935.9168
- Patrick Talbot Hall, Pacifica, [email protected], 650.359.2996
- Heather Tremain, Alemeda, [email protected]., 510.521.3361
- Jane Brindle Miller, Palo Alto, [email protected], 650.321.6011
- David L. Howell, Fremont, [email protected], 510.396.1770
- Georgia K. W. Couch, Martinez, [email protected], 925.939.9768
- Cathy E. Rincon, Foster City, [email protected], 650.571.1373
- Johanna T. Gomez, San Rafael, [email protected], 415.492.1502
- Ann Saponara, Fremont, [email protected], 510.568.1214
End of life decisions
In order to provide your loved ones with direction regarding your wishes for celebrating your life and providing for the disposition of your mortal remains, use a form such as this one.
"Instructions for My Family and Friends" is a form with helpful fill-in-the-blanks and multiple choice answers to important end of life questions.
