Wills & Bequests

We are called to be good stewards of our time, talent, and treasure. After providing for families and loved ones, you may wish to put the Diocese of Lansing, or one of our parishes, schools, or other agencies into your will. All gifts are welcome, and we ask that you prayerfully consider whether a portion of your estate should be used to continue the Catholic ministries in the Diocese of Lansing. This can be accomplished with the words, I bequeath to [the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, or a particular parish, school, or agency] [insert the amount being given, or the percentage of the residue of your estate]. A bequest can be a specific dollar amount, a specific piece of property, a percentage of an estate, or all or part of the residue of an estate. If you wish, you are free to direct that the funds be used to support a particular ministry or project. It is always recommended that you consult a lawyer for drafting or amending a will.

As you prayerfully consider how best to support the Catholic ministries in the Diocese of Lansing, you might wish to consider a different form of gift. Many people now list spouses and children as the beneficiaries of 100% of life insurance policies or of 401(k) holdings. Perhaps you might wish to reduce slightly that amount, and give 90% or 95% of those funds to your family. A generous gift of 5% or 10% of your life insurance or 401(k) to the Diocese of Lansing, or a particular parish, school, or agency would greatly assist the Catholic ministries with this diocese. It is always recommended that you consult a lawyer or qualified financial advisor before making important financial decisions.