Catholic Estate Plans

Professional   Affordable   Catholic

Currently Available for: Minnesota

Why Catholic Estate Plans?

Most people know they should make an estate plan but haven’t found the time or money to get it done. We provide professional, affordable, Catholic estate plans that meet people’s needs.

Finish your estate plan in one night.

At a Catholic Estate Plans workshop, you will:

  • Work with us to make a complete estate plan in one night.

  • Have time to ask any questions, making sure you understand your plan and it meets your needs.

  • Take a break while we draft your documents; you can go out for dinner, take a walk, or stay at the church and pray.

  • Pay hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars less than what is charged for an equivalent plan through a traditional law firm process.

Who is this for?

Our workshops and estate plans are designed for adults who:

  • are practicing Catholics

  • reside in Minnesota

  • have less than $2 million in total assets

  • do not own real estate outside of Minnesota

  • have a simple family structure

  • want a straightforward and effective estate plan

What people are saying:

  • “Thank you to Catholic Estate Plans! The plan was affordable and not as daunting as we feared. Our financial planner has asked us so many times if we have a will. We can now say yes. We would not have one if this plan was not offered. It is affordable and an easy process. Sam and his team was professional and we felt as though our needs were met. Questions were met with openness and honesty and no question was left unanswered. Thank you for such an amazing service!”

    - Lisa Z.

  • “My brother passed away unexpectedly with no spouse or children and his estate is all tied up in probate. I decided to get a will but was still reluctant to take the time. However Catholic Estate Plans was so simple and quick that no one should feel intimated or hold off on getting it done. Well worth it.”

    - Ron M.

  • “This was our third will and POA documentation we have filled out due to multiple moves. Every other time we did this we it was very sterile and uncaring. Sam showed throughout the process his care and compassion for the people he was serving. We could have gotten our wills done for free through my work, but I am happy to pay for this because we got more than paperwork out of the seminar in the end.”

    - David and Margaret J.

  • "The workshop was an efficient and affordable way to create an estate plan, something we had been wanting to do for years but had put off due to cost or not knowing where to start."

    - Josh F.

  • "My husband and I are so grateful for this workshop! We wouldn’t have gotten to creating an estate plan for years even though we knew it is a really important thing to do--especially as a young family. Checking the estate plan off of our to-do list is such a relief! This workshop is just what we needed."

    - Margaret N.

  • “We are so grateful our parish hosted this workshop. Completing estate plan documents is a great gift to those we leave behind. We appreciated the professional and Catholic support we received!”

    - Susan S.

  • "We have been talking about making an estate plan for a few years but have been intimidated by the cost and unsure where we could make a plan that upheld our Catholic faith. The CEP workshop exceeded our hopes and we are thrilled to have a completed estate plan that is in line with the Church and reflects our family’s wishes. The quality, cost, and efficiency of the Catholic Estate Plan process is an invaluable gift to the Church."

    - Maggie T.

Register or Request a Workshop

How the Process Works

  1. Register for an upcoming workshop in your area

  2. Complete a short questionnaire to prepare

  3. Attend the workshop evening, completing your estate plan in one night!

FAQ’s

  • A Catholic Estate Plans workshop consists of:

    You receive a simple questionnaire beforehand, which you must complete and bring to the workshop.

    We work together on your estate plan, with plenty of time for questions. You enter your information into one of our computer workstations.

    You go out for dinner, or a walk, or stay and pray, for about an hour while we draft your documents.

    You return, sign your documents, and go home with a complete estate plan!

  • A complete estate plan is much more than just a will. Our estate plans include a will, a health care directive, a power of attorney, a personal property list, and a letter of instruction, to ensure you have a complete plan that truly takes care of the people and places you love.

    In the Will, you state what happens with your belongings and who cares for your family when you die. If you have minor children, your will can also include a children’s trust.

    In the Health Care Directive, you name an agent to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to, and give directions regarding the medical care you’d like to receive, provide instructions regarding your faith (especially receiving anointing of the sick), and describe your wishes regarding a funeral and burial.

    In the Power of Attorney, you can appoint someone to help manage your finances if the need arises.

    In you Personal Property List, you can make specific gifts of personal property to family and friends.

    Together, these documents create a complete estate plan.

  • We have worked hard to come up with a process that is not only great, but affordable; we only charge $360 to participate in a workshop.

    In comparison, a similar estate plan through a traditional law firm process costs closer to $1,000 or more.

  • No. Registration is for an individual or a couple, and we don’t charge any extra for an estate plan for a married couple.

  • In many ways! Here are some of the big ones:

    • Other Options: you are on your own. You fill out a form and get documents that you hope are legal and will actually do what you want.

      • Catholic Estate Plans: We are with you throughout the process, and we draft and review your documents, and talk through them with you. You know your estate plan is legal and will actually take care of the people and places you love.

    • Other options: May not be a complete estate plan; some only include a will, they almost never include a children’s trust, and they may leave out the health care directive, power of attorney, personal property list, or instruction letters.

      • Catholic Estate Plans: Provides a complete plan, including a will, health care directive, personal property list, and instruction letter.

    • Other Options: May not incorporate your Catholic beliefs fully or at all.

      • Catholic Estate Plans: Includes health care instructions that specifically align with and reference Church teachings on ethical health care, and provides instruction regarding receiving the sacraments. Provides an opportunity to give your family instruction regarding your funeral and burial, and an opportunity to set up charitable giving if desired.

    • Other Options: Probably do not truly account for the needs of your minor children.

      • Catholic Estate Plans: Includes a children’s trust in plans for families with minor children.

  • A Catholic estate plan respects and incorporates your faith, and is an opportunity for you to communicate your values to your children.

    Perhaps most importantly, a Catholic health care directive informs your doctor that you are Catholic, provides directions for care in accordance with Church teaching, and directs your health care provider to contact your pastor so you can receive anointing of the sick (last rites).

    A Catholic estate plan also ensures that the people and places you love are cared for, and gives an opportunity to make charitable donations to your parish, school, or other non-profit if you wish.

  • Our plans are designed for people who:

    • Are practicing Catholics

    • Live in Minnesota

    • Have less than $2 million in total assets

    • Have a simple family structure

    • Do not own real estate outside of Minnesota

    • Want a straightforward estate plan on which they can rely

    • Want their children to receive equal shares

    • Are able to type their information into a computer keyboard

  • Our estate plan is not designed for people who:

    • Have over $2 million in net worth

    • Do not live in Minnesota

    • Own real estate outside of Minnesota

    • Have complex needs (blended families, personal issues, children with special needs, elder law concerns, etc.)

    • Want to establish a revocable trust

    • Have agricultural/farmland

    • Cannot type on a keyboard

    • Desire in-depth/ extensive discussion when making a plan.

    If any of these apply to you, a more traditional estate plan process would better meet your needs. Contact us and we can connect you with an estate planning law firm.

  • Go here to fill out a workshop request form.

    Our workshop is an opportunity to provide a great service to parishioners, helping them care for their families, ensure their estate plans are authentically Catholic, and providing an option to include the parish or school in their will.

  • The registration page is here.

    If there isn’t a workshop already scheduled in your area, ask your parish/school to connect with us!

    Or fill out a workshop request form, here, to let us know you’d like to have a workshop in your area.

  • Feel free to send us an email: hello@catholicestateplans.com, or to send us a message through our contact page.

Want to set up a workshop at your parish/school?

We run workshops throughout Minnesota, where families can complete a Catholic estate plan in one evening! The workshop format allows for an affordable rate, while still providing access estate planning professionals to answer questions and draft and review documents.

This is a great opportunity to provide a service to your families, helping them care for their families, ensure their estate plans are authentically Catholic, and provide an option to include the parish or school in their will.