National Make-A-Will Month: A Plan for the People You Love
By: Chris White, President & CEO, United Way Northwest Indiana
This year has reminded Northwest Indiana how quickly life can change. In March, a tornado devastated parts of Lake Village. In June, severe storms damaged homes and disrupted lives in Merrillville.
No document can prevent a storm, accident or illness. But planning can reduce uncertainty when life takes an unexpected turn.
August is National Make-A-Will Month, a reminder to prepare for the inevitable. A will is not only for the wealthy or elderly. It protects your family, communicates your wishes and provides clarity during a difficult time.
Trust & Will’s 2026 Estate Planning Report found that only 26% of adults have a will, while 56% have no estate-planning documents. Many assume the process is unnecessary, expensive or complicated.
Without a will, state law, not you, generally determines how your property is distributed. A court may also have to decide who will manage your affairs or care for minor children. Even in loving families, unclear instructions can create delays, disagreements and added stress.
An estate plan allows you to name who will carry out your wishes, identify who should receive your property, nominate guardians for minor children and outline your healthcare preferences. It can also address meaningful personal possessions and digital assets.
Some households should seek professional guidance, particularly those with blended families, businesses, property in multiple states or relatives with special needs. The goal is not to complete a form, but to create a plan that fits your circumstances.
United Way Northwest Indiana wants to make the first step easier. Through our partnership with FreeWill.com, you can use a free online tool to create a state-specific will. The questionnaire takes about 20 minutes, after which users receive a printable document and instructions for finalizing it.
That final step is critical. In Indiana, a will generally must be printed and signed in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign it. FreeWill provides state-specific instructions, but it is not a substitute for legal advice. Anyone with questions or a complex situation should consult an estate-planning attorney.
Family should come first: A will can protect a spouse or partner, provide for children and grandchildren, and pass along property with special meaning. Some people also include a gift to a church, school, food pantry, United Way or another organization that reflects their values.
A charitable gift may be a specific amount, an asset or a small percentage of an estate after loved ones have been provided for. Such gifts can expand opportunity for children, strengthen families and help neighbors during a crisis.
Charitable giving is a personal choice. The most important reason to make a will is to care for the people who depend on you and spare them avoidable uncertainty.
National Make-A-Will Month is also a good time to review an existing will. Confirm your choices, update beneficiary designations and consider changes in your family, finances and property. Make sure your executor knows where the original is stored.
We spend much of our lives planning for what we hope will happen: a home, a child’s education, retirement or a family trip. Making a will means preparing responsibly for what we hope remains far in the future.
It is not an act of pessimism. It is an act of care.
This August, take twenty minutes to begin. Visit www.unitedwaynwi.org/freewill to create or update your plan, then sign and store your documents. Seek legal advice when your circumstances call for it.
A little planning today can give the people you love greater clarity, protection and peace of mind tomorrow.