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When planning your last will you can prepare a document that will give your Christian witness.  In fact, including a testimony of your faith and your wishes regarding the settlement of your estate in a biblically faithful manner can provide comfort to your loved ones in their time of loss and encourage them, too, to place their trust in Jesus Christ.

Your testimony and wishes may be expressed in two important sections of your will: the Preamble and a dispute resolution clause.  The use of these clauses can help to reduce the possibility that the settlement of your estate will be prolonged due to disputes among the heirs or even litigation.  Prayerfully consider adding one of these sample clauses to your Will or use them as a guide in writing your will. 

[NOTE:  As in the preparation of any other legal document, the advice of a competent legal professional should be sought in the use of these recommended will clauses.]

  

The Preamble

PREAMBLE 1

I,                                                of the City of                             County of                              , and State of                          , being of sound and disposing mind and mem­ory and being under no re­straint, do make, declare and pub­lish this my last Will and Testa­ment, here­by revoking all Wills and codicils heretofore made by me.

First, knowing that the sin of Adam and Eve brought death to the whole human race, I believe that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, suffered and died to give me eternal life, which I neither deserve nor merit, but receive as a free gift of God, who is rich in grace and mercy.

Second, realizing that true security does not lie in things made by Man, I place my full confidence and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and who promised:  "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in Me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).

Third, I urge my heirs not to set their hope on the accumulation of money or things, but to take hold of the life which is life indeed through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

 

PREAMBLE 2

I,                                                of the City of                             County of                              , and State of                          , being of sound and disposing mind and memory and being under no restraint, do make, declare and publish this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all Wills and codicils heretofore made by me.

First, I commit myself to God's care, secure in His love for me and trusting in the salvation purchased for me through Christ's suffering and death.  I leave those who survive me the com­fort of knowing that I have died in this faith, have now joined my Lord in paradise and anticipate the day in which Jesus Christ shall return from heaven to earth to establish His eternal kingdom.

Second, I commend my loved ones to the protection of Almighty God, knowing that He will continue to provide for their needs in spite of my absence; and I encourage them to place their faith and trust in Him alone.

 

[NOTE:  If a preamble is not practical or if few people will actually see your will, you can also express your testimony in a letter to be sent to your heirs or read at the funeral service.]

Dispute Settlement Clause

CLAUSE 1

I believe that God wants Christians to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with one another in private or within the church (see Matthew 18:15-20; I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-3 in the Holy Bible).  I believe that obedience to these principles honors and pleases God, benefits those involved and may lead others to faith in Jesus Christ.  Therefore, trusting that my family and friends will honor my beliefs and wishes, I ask that any questions or disputes that may arise during the administration of my estate, and which cannot be resolved by private efforts between the parties, be settled by mediation and, if necessary, arbitration conducted by a Christian practitioner.  Names of Christian professionals and others with conciliation experience may be obtained from Peacemaker Ministries of Billings, Montana, www.hispeace.org.

 

CLAUSE 2

I believe that the Bible commands Christians to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or within the church (see Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-3 in the Holy Bible).  I believe that obedience to these principles glorifies God, blesses those involved (Matthew 5:9; John 17:20-23)H and may lead others to faith in Christ.  With these thoughts in mind, I ask that any questions or disputes which may arise during the administration of my estate, and which cannot be resolved by private efforts between the parties, be settled through an arbitration process within a church of the [name of denomination] of which I am a member, and, if necessary, with the assistance of Peacemaker Ministries of Billings, Montana, www.hispeace.org, unless the parties mutually agree on another Christian mediator/arbitrator.

 

[NOTE: Scripture citations may be deleted.]

 

Other Considerations for Estate Planning

· Insure that your spouse, children and parents, if living, receive appropriate consideration.  (Matthew 15:1-6; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:3-8)

· Carry sufficient insurance so that your heirs don't become indirectly responsible for your debt by lessened distribution of net assets from the estate.  ([Romans 13:8)

· Don't burden your estate with the debt of co-signing on any loan.  (Proverbs 6:1-5; 11:15)

· Consider the needs of your church and other Christian ministries.  When leaving some of your estate to a Christian ministry, be specific in naming the ministry.  Don't leave it to a court or your heirs to define "Christian" or your real intentions. (1 Corinthians 9:6-11; Galatians 6:6]

· Before designating a portion of your estate for a special charitable project, check with the church or organization to determine whether the project exists or is planned. There are usually fewer legal problems if the church or organization retains discretion over how donated funds are spent.