How to Create a Bequest

1. Bequests commonly take one of the following form:

• A general cash bequest gives a fixed sum of money. This gives your executor the flexibility to pay the bequest from any available source.  Example: "I leave $_____ to {the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, formal parish name, or formal parish school name.}" 
• A specific bequest gives a particular piece of property. However, use caution, because if you dispose of the property before your death, the Church will not receive your intended gift. Example: "I leave all of my securities to {the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, formal parish name, or formal parish school name.}"
• A residual bequest gives the "rest, residue and remainder" of your estate, whether all or just a percentage, of the residue after all other debts, taxes and expenses are paid. Example: "I give all the rest, residue and remainder of my real and personal estate to {the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, formal parish name, or formal parish school name.}"
• A percentage of the estate or trust gives a stated percentage of the estate’s or trust’s assets.
• A contingent bequest requires a certain event to occur before the gift can happen. For example, you could bequeath funds to a family member provided that person survives you; if the family member does not survive you, the funds would then go to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, your parish, or your parish school. Example: "I give the entirety of my estate to my husband if he survives me; if not, then the entirety of my estate shall pass to {the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, formal parish name, or formal parish school name.}" 

2. Decide how you would like the Church to use your gift. 

• An unrestricted bequest allows us to use the assets in the most beneficial manner as determined by the archbishop or parish pastor.
• A restricted bequest allows you to designate your gift to the Catholic Stewardship Appeal, your parish, your parish school, or a specific ministry that is close to your heart. Discussing your charitable intentions with us will help ensure that your gift is directed in the manner you intend to fund a specific ministry or ministries.
• An endowed bequest allows you to designate that your gift shall become part of an existing endowment from which a distribution is made each year. Because the principal remains intact, the fund will support the Church’s mission in perpetuity.  Contact us in advance to be certain your intent can be fulfilled. 

3. Meet with your estate planning attorney.

Whether you need to create a will or trust for the first time, or revise your existing documents to reflect your current situation and preferences, you'll want to seek the help of an estate planning attorney.

4. Let us know of your plans.

If you have included the Archdiocese, the Catholic Stewardship Appeal, your parish, or your parish school in your will or estate plan, please let us know so we can thank you for your generosity.  We also want to include you in our legacy society membership roster.

Click here for sample gift language for your will.

We invite you to contact us for assistance or more information.