Q&A on Planning Your Gift
Creating an Estate Plan

Q. My wife and I area in our early forties and have two children. Is it too early for us to create an estate plan?

A. No. Though it's not easy to think about, planning for your children's care in the unlikely event of a tragedy is crucial, even if you do not have substantial assets at this point in your lives.

Q. I am revising my will and considering a bequest to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Can you help me structure my bequest?

A. Yes, we will provide you with the correct language for your will or living trust. You either can use sample language from our website or call or email with questions about a particular area that you want to support, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, or charity care.

Q. If I include a gift in my estate plan do I need to tell you?

A. You don't have to inform us, but we hope that you will. Knowing about your intention helps us direct the gift efficiently to the right program when your executor is settling your estate.We'd also like the chance to recognize you in publications and the Hospital's donor wall, as well as to invite you to special events that feature good food and conversation, tours of Hospital facilities, and presentations by leaders in pediatric medicine. Some people inform us but prefer to remain anonymous, and we respect that wish as well.

Q. Can I create am endowed fund in my family's name through my bequest?

A. Yes, and in fact, we often encourage this for larger gifts. You will need to work with us to create a plan for your endowed fund.

Q. Are there other ways that I can help through my estate?

A. There are many types of planned gifts besides bequests.Most are "life income gifts" such as gift annuities or trusts, which return part of your donation as retirement income and designate the rest to support the Hospital. It's easy for us to send you an illustration of how these gifts work. Just give us a call.