LEGACY LETTER WORKBOOK
Marshfield Clinic Development Department 1000 N. Oak Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449 715-387-9249 www.marshfieldclinic.org/giving - 1 - Introduction to this Workbook
Although some people may be able to sit down with a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen and begin writing their legacy letter, others may need some help to get started. This workbook is intended to be a place to organize your thoughts, take some notes, and get ideas, etc., in preparation for writing your legacy letter.
Writing your legacy letter is a personal journey. Take the time you need to complete the process, but don’t worry about getting the letter “just right”. You can always add to or revise the letter as needed or desired. If you get frustrated along the way, you may want to spend some time away from the writing process and come back another day. The end product is well worth your effort, as you are creating a gift to your family and friends that they will most certainly treasure.
An excellent resource (which assisted in the creation of these materials) is Susan B. Turnball’s “The Wealth of Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will”, 2nd edition. Susan’s book and other materials can be found at www.personallegacyadvisors.com. Other resources are also available by searching “legacy letter” or “ethical will” on the internet, or by visiting your favorite bookstore.
- 2 - This workbook will outline Five Steps to Creating Your Legacy Letter:
Step 1: Identify your audience. (pages 3-4)
Step 2: Determine the goals/intentions of your letter. (pages 5-6)
Step 3: Make notes. (pages 7-12)
Step 4: Integrate your notes/thoughts into an outline. (pages 13-16)
Step 5: Compose your letter. (pages 17-19)
- 3 - Step 1: Identify Your Audience
Before you can begin constructing your legacy letter, you need to decide your audience. Which persons do you hope will read your legacy letter either during your lifetime or upon your death? Will you create personalized letters for each reader or are you planning to create one letter for a general audience?
Possible audiences include:
Children Grandchildren Unborn descendants Siblings, nieces and nephews Parents Spouse or partner Friends Guardians of children Trustees Health care agent Other
- 4 - Step 1: Identify Your Audience
I would like to write my legacy letter to:
___ I will write one letter
___ I will write more than one letter addressed to different audiences or individuals
- 5 - Step 2: Determine the Goals/Intentions of Your Legacy Letter
Before you begin, reflect on the reason you are writing this letter or letters. What are the goals of your legacy letter?
___ To tell my audience how important they are to me
___ To give my audience a sense of family history
___ To share some of my own history
___ To express what is important to me
___ To share some of what I have learned
___To explain decisions made in my legal documents (estate plan)
___ To tell the story behind the assets that they may inherit
___ Other: ______
- 6 - Step 2: Determine the Goals/Intentions of Your Legacy Letter
I want to write this legacy letter because:
(If multiple versions of your legacy letter) I want to write this legacy letter because:
- 7 - Step 3: Make Notes
The next step may take some time, but will be invaluable in determining the content of your letter and assist you greatly in the writing process.
In this step, you will identify themes you would like to address in your letter and make notes on the specific content or subjects you would like to include.
Ideas:
Your history – people who have had an impact on your life
Your values – what gives meaning to your life
Your perspectives on life – sharing what life has taught you
Your estate plan – explaining why you made the decisions you did
Your feelings – what you want to express to your audience
- 8 - Step 3: Notes on Your History
A person I want my audience to know about:
Details:
What difference did this person make in my life?
What values did I learn from this person?
- 9 - Step 3: Notes on Your Values
What activity or role gives meaning to my life?
What values are reflected in that activity or role?
What activity or role gives meaning to my life?
What values are reflected in that activity or role?
- 10 - Step 3: Notes on Your Perspectives on Life
What I have learned about:
Love and relationships:
Developing and employing one’s talents:
Appreciating and enjoying life:
Using and managing money:
Facing unexpected difficulties:
Other things I have learned:
- 11 - Step 3: Notes on Your Estate Plan
How do I hope my beneficiaries will benefit from the assets they receive?
What guidelines might be helpful to the trustee of assets being held for my heirs?
What guidelines can I offer the guardians of my children to assist them?
Why am I making the charitable gifts that I included in my estate plan?
Why did I make uneven or perhaps unexpected distributions of assets?
What would I like to see happen with a shared property (vacation home)?
What would I like to see happen with a family business?
- 12 - Step 3: Notes on Your Feelings
What difference has the audience made in my life?
What do I love and admire about them?
What do I wish for their futures?
Do I need to ask for forgiveness or address any estrangements?
How do I want my audience to remember me?
- 13 - Step 4: Integrate Your Notes/Thoughts
Now, go back to your notes and the thoughts you have had to date on goals and purposes of writing your legacy letter. Take some time to review the previous pages and then complete the next few pages, in preparation for writing your legacy letter. Note that some of the categories on the following pages may not be applicable to your legacy letter.
My audience:
My intention/goal in writing this letter:
The single most important thing I want to get across in my letter:
- 14 - Step 4: Integrate Your Notes/Thoughts
My history:
My perspectives on life:
- 15 - Step 4: Integrate Your Notes/Thoughts
My values:
My estate plan:
- 16 - Step 4: Integrate Your Notes/Thoughts
My feelings:
Others topics I want to include:
- 17 - Step 5: Compose Your Letter
Its time to complete your legacy letter! Don’t worry; the preparation you have done so far has readied you for this step. You aren’t “writing in stone”, so don’t worry about making it perfect on your first attempt. In fact, don’t worry about making it perfect at all!
Some points to remember as you write:
Write in your voice; make the letter sound like you. Use words you normally use and write the way you typically write. Your family and friends want to recognize you in the letter.
Consider writing a first draft then revisit in a few days. Perhaps even set a timer when you write the first draft to force yourself to get something down on paper and then come back later to review.
Sign and date the letter. Your signature personalizes the letter, especially if you type the content of the letter. The date is a great way to identify where you were in your personal history when you wrote the letter, as well as to
- 18 - distinguish this letter from others you may write in the future.
Keep the letter in an accessible location. If you are not planning to share the letter immediately, make sure you placed it in a secure and accessible location. Let someone know you have composed a legacy letter and where to find it. If you have instructions as to when the letter is to be shared (i.e. to be read at your funeral or memorial service; to be delivered to your children at your death), make sure those instructions are shared with a few individuals who can carry out your wishes at that time.
Keep the letter in an accessible format. Remember that technology is constantly changing. If your legacy letter is videotaped or recorded, stored on a computer, or saved on a computer disk or drive, make sure you have a means to address technology changes.
Rewrite as needed/desired. Your legacy letter is about you and your life, which are constantly changing and evolving. You may find your letter needs to be revised to reflect those changes. Next time around, it should be a piece of cake! - 19 - Additional Pages for Notes:
- 20 - Additional Pages for Notes:
- 21 -