For many of us, the term “estate planning” brings up uncomfortable feelings.
The majority of Americans don’t have a will because they don’t want to think about death, or because they don’t believe they own enough property or assets to warrant creating one.
These numbers spike even higher within communities of color: 77% of Black adults don’t have wills in place for similar reasons, along with additional unique barriers.
For one, creating a will can be prohibitively expensive.
Deep mistrust of the legal system only compounds the issue: our system has failed to protect Black communities and has made false promises of land ownership many times in the past (think “40 acres & a mule”).
Each October, we observe National Estate Planning Awareness Week because we’re intimately aware of the generational loss of land, wealth, and stability impacting our communities because estate planning feels out of reach for them.
Estate planning is also important to uplift because it’s a powerful tool we can use to shape the legacies we leave behind.
The unfortunate fact is that most deaths are unexpected.
By making the time to plan for this reality, we can minimize the heartache, confusion, and administrative headache that our loved ones will endure if they are forced to settle our final affairs.
Estate planning also allows us to retain self determination over our assets–no matter how much or little we own–instead of allowing the state to make these decisions for us.
From leveraging tax-free charitable distributions through retirement accounts, to including a simple sentence in your will, there are multiple pathways to ensuring loved ones, communities, and movements for racial and economic justice will be resourced long into the future.
Set aside some time this weekend and check out the resources we’ve compiled below to help you think strategically about the future:
- Begin learning about estate planning.
There are plenty of resources available online through organizations like Legalzoom that explain how estate planning can help you pass down property, choose who raises your children, and more. - Schedule an appointment with DJC’s Michigan Legal Help Self-Help Center.
DJC hosts a legal self-help center in our office, where residents can access legal information–including information about wills and life planning. A resource navigator will welcome you to our space, walk you through the requisite forms, and answer your questions. Reach out to Lauren Thomas to schedule an appointment at (313) 879-5605. - Share resources about heirs’ properties in Detroit. When a homeowner passes away without a will, their home becomes an “heirs’ property,” which is an unstable form of homeownership. Heirs must go through expensive and time-consuming legal processes with the court to try and gain rightful ownership. At least 5,500 properties in Detroit are currently owned by deceased people. Because these properties weren’t legally kept in the family before the owner died, their descendants become more vulnerable to foreclosure and displacement.
- Detroit Future City has created a guide explaining how heirs can resolve “tangled titles” and keep homes in their families.
- The City of Detroit is offering new services to help with estate planning and will preparation.
- Outlier Media is reporting on how heirs’ properties issues are directly impacting Detroiters.
- Explore planned giving opportunities with DJC.
It’s a common myth that planned gifts are complicated, confusing, and only for the wealthy. In reality, our movements are fueled by everyday people. Individuals with the least to give, give the most & give the most often. Get in touch with our Development Director, Regina Sharma, to learn more about simple and affordable ways you can include the future funding of our movements in your estate plans:rsharma@detroitjustice.org // 313-908-5987.