Catholic Estate Planning
in the 21st Century
How can preparing for death deepen our life in Christ today? Discover a Catholic tradition of preparation rooted in hope, and learn how thoughtful planning can express faith and care for those you love.
A quiet reflection on earthly possessions and the eternal significance of our choices.
Christ’s Resurrection gives Christian preparation for death its horizon of hope. Remembering that life is finite invites us to love faithfully in the time we have.
This traditional reminder brings our choices into focus. Our time, relationships, and possessions are entrusted to us for a season. What deserves our attention today?
“For dust you are and to dust you will return,”Genesis 3:19
The late-medieval Ars Moriendi tradition offered spiritual guidance for facing death. It encouraged preparation in faith, with the support of others.
Estate planning is a contemporary, practical companion to that spiritual preparation. Documents can serve love; they cannot replace prayer, reconciliation, or the sacraments.
Christian stewardship begins with gratitude for God’s gifts and responsibility for their use. That responsibility includes providing for dependents, helping loved ones understand your wishes, and considering how your generosity might continue.
A charitable gift may belong in your plan. So do the ordinary acts of care: naming someone trustworthy, organizing important papers, and having a conversation your family will one day be grateful you began.
Read the U.S. bishops on stewardshipThink of these as five conversations to begin. Open each step for an explanation and a small action you can take.
A will directs the distribution of assets it controls and names an executor to administer your estate. Parents can also nominate a guardian for minor children, subject to the court’s approval. A trust may be useful in some circumstances; an attorney can help you decide.
Consider who depends on you and who could responsibly carry out your wishes. Talk with the people you hope to name before finalizing documents.
Make an inventory of accounts, property, debts, insurance, and important records. Review beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance: these often determine who receives those assets independently of your will.
A durable financial power of attorney can authorize someone to manage financial matters if you become incapacitated. It serves a different purpose from naming an executor and generally ends at death.
Choose a healthcare agent who understands your Catholic convictions and can speak for you if you cannot. Discuss your wishes with that person and use advance-directive documents appropriate to your state.
Catholic care affirms the dignity of every human life. Decisions about treatment require attention to the likely benefits and burdens in the actual circumstances. Avoid blanket instructions that could reject appropriate care; discuss questions with your clinician and a qualified Catholic ethicist or diocesan resource.
Share your desire for prayer, a priest’s visit, and the sacraments when seriously ill. Contact your parish early rather than waiting until the last moments of life.
Speak with your parish about a Catholic funeral and burial arrangements. Record your wishes, including appropriate readings or hymns, in a place loved ones can access promptly. Funeral wishes left only in a will may not be found in time.
Preparing spiritually also belongs to daily life: prayer, participation in the sacraments, and seeking reconciliation with God and others.
After considering the needs of those who depend on you, reflect on the parish, ministries, or charitable work you hope to support. A bequest or beneficiary designation can express a commitment that has shaped your life.
Ask the organization for its correct legal name and suggested gift language, then review the arrangement with your advisor. Explain any intended restrictions and confirm they can be honored. Giving is a free response to grace, never a purchase of spiritual favor.
This guide offers general education for U.S. readers, not individualized legal, tax, or medical advice. State requirements and personal circumstances differ. Work with qualified professionals to prepare and execute your documents.
Find the Diocese of Little Rock’s estate-planning documents through FreeWill. Use them to begin preparing and to guide conversations with your family and advisors.
Visit FreeWill.com/DioceseofLittleRock
Pray, name the people who depend on you, and gather any plans you already have. An unfinished plan is a reason to begin, not a reason for shame.
“I want to prepare thoughtfully, so you won’t have to guess about my wishes. Could we find time to talk?”
Talk with an estate-planning attorney about legal documents and with your parish about spiritual and funeral preparation. Revisit plans after major life changes.