August Is National Make a Will Month

August is National Make a Will Month, a timely reminder to reflect on your legacy and take action for your future. Despite the importance of a Will, and according to Caring.com’s 2023 study, only 58% of American adults have a Will in place. This highlights that almost half have yet to take this essential step toward peace of mind. But making a Will isn’t just about dividing up your belongings. A Will is about providing peace of mind, protecting your loved ones, and stewarding your blessings with intention. For Catholics, it’s also a chance to create a legacy that reflects and honors your faith.

Why Your Will Matters Now More Than Ever

“We are seeing the beginning of the greatest transfer of wealth in human history over the next 20 years,” says Dan Thimons, COO and Founder of My Catholic Will. Without a clear Will, families can be left with not just grief, but legal disputes and confusion. A Will is one of the most loving and responsible things you can do.

Yet for many, the process seems overwhelming. That’s where Couple to Couple League and My Catholic Will come in. My Catholic Will is a simple, online platform that helps any adult create a legal Will in just 15 minutes. CCL is providing this crucial service to our students, volunteers and benefactors (and their families!) entirely for free. (It’s regularly $80 on My Catholic Will but other legal providers can charge upwards of $800 of a Will.)

Your Legacy Begins Today

Making a Will is not about fearing the end—it’s about shaping the impact you want to have. As Dan Thimons puts it, “By not having a Will, you are already making a decision—to let the state decide how to divide your assets and who to name as guardians for your children.” Don’t leave these crucial decisions to chance.

Couple to Couple League is proud to partner with My Catholic Will. CCL volunteers, benefactors and staff can visit the ccli.org/legacy page to find the exclusive link that will allow them to create a My Catholic Will for free – normally it’s $80. This partnership provides a great savings to CCL’s loyal patrons. Remembering CCL in your legacy giving is not a requirement to get the free Will, but CCL appreciates any gifts, of course!

To begin your no-cost, legal Will today, visit ccli.org/legacy, click the link to My Catholic Will and then follow three simple steps:

  1. Create Your Will
  2. Consider a Gift to CCL (not required)
  3. Make it Legal

My Catholic Will makes it easy for you to remember the charities and ministries you have supported throughout your life. Remembering CCL in your planning makes it possible for us to continue our ministry to engaged and married couples.

“The gift of generosity is one you also give to yourself,” Katie Zulanas Executive Director of CCL, says, “That puts a whole different complexion on all the hard work you’ve done in your life. Leaving a legacy gift to your favorite ministries and organizations allows them to continue to flourish even with your passing.”

What Sets My Catholic Will Apart?

Unlike generic Will services, My Catholic Will integrates Catholic values and priorities from start to finish. Some standout features include:

  • DIY legal Will completed online in 15 minutes
  • Built-in options for Catholic funeral and burial preferences
  • The ability to request Masses for the repose of your soul
  • Seamless “mirror” feature for Will creation for spouses
  • Confidential, secure information handling
  • Built-in options to leave legacy gifts to Catholic organizations like Couple to Couple League and many many others

And it’s making a difference: 1 in 4 users include gifts to Catholic charities in their estate plans, with over $150 million already committed to these causes.

Where to Start and When

The best time to make a Will? Now. Whether you’re 18 or 80, everyone has something—or someone—to plan for. Parents, in particular, need to choose guardians for their minor children, while others may want to ensure their favorite charities, and even their pets, are remembered.

The most important thing is simply to start. Your Will is not written in stone; think of it as your first Last Will and Testament. As life changes—children are born, assets grow, or you feel called to support different causes—you can update it. With My Catholic Will, edits are always free. Just print, sign with witnesses, and keep it stored safely where your executor can access it.

For complex estates or situations involving business ownership or blended families, consulting an estate attorney is wise. But for most people, My Catholic Will is a practical and easy solution.

Take a few minutes this August to care for your loved ones, your legacy, and your faith – make a will! Your future self, and your family, will thank you.

Additional Resources:

American Life League (ALL.org) provides a FREE Pro-Life Healthcare Directive with Durable Power of Attorney document on their website. This document tells your doctor and other healthcare personnel how to take care of you should you become so sick that you are unable to communicate your wishes.

The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBCenter.org) has two resources: A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions, which includes a Health Care Proxy form and Advance Medical Directive, and a Palliative Care Guide which includes questions to ask before enrolling a loved one in hospice.

Address to the Eighteenth International Congress of the Transplantation Society, Pope John Paul II, August 2000

Declaration on Euthanasia, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,1980

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2009

On Life-Sustaining Treatments and the Vegetative State, Pope John Paul II, March 20, 2004

Written by CCL Editorial Staff for the benefit of our benefactors, patrons, students, volunteers and staff.