August is Make-A-Will Month—an opportunity to proactively plan your future and craft your legacy. Popularized in 2014 by AARP, Make-A-Will Month has become a time to intentionally focus on one of life’s most important documents. As we enter the final months of the year, August is prime time to create some peace of mind for the future.
Making a will is more important and much easier than many people realize. Let this Make-A-Will Month be one you celebrate!
Why creating a will is important (even if you don’t feel wealthy)
You might be shocked to learn that only an estimated 1 in 4 Americans has a will, according to a 2025 Caring.com survey. Most people don’t yet have a will because they assume that it will be difficult or expensive to set up, or they don’t believe that they have enough assets to leave behind. But, what happens if you don’t have a will in place when you pass? Instead of your assets going to the people or causes that you love, your assets are distributed according to court proceedings and state laws.
Creating a will typically happens in response to a big life event—your family is growing, and you want to name a guardian for your children, you’ve purchased a home or other significant asset, or you or someone you care about is faced with a challenging medical diagnosis. Make-A-Will Month empowers us all to take advantage of the present moment to set ourselves and our loved ones up for the future.
One of the greatest acts of kindness we can do for our future selves and loved ones is to make a will. Losing someone close to us can be additionally stressful if intentions aren’t articulated through end-of-life planning. Will writing is an exercise in taking stock of your life thus far and allocating your wealth and possessions in a way that is meaningful to you. Anyone can make a will no matter their age, background, or situation.
Ways to Start Planning for Your Future
With the intention of creating a more peaceful, positive future, consider making a goal to take at least one step in your own estate planning this Make-A-Will Month. Whatever stage of life you’re in, here are some tangible ways you can “celebrate”.
- Choose how to create a will: three common options. There are a variety of different avenues you can take to create your will. You can hire an estate planning attorney, make one yourself (as long as it meets your state’s requirements to be legally binding), or use one of many free online will-making tools The Xerces Society does not endorse any one online too, but if you are having trouble finding one, please reach out to us.
- Make an inventory of your assets. Keeping a list of your assets ensures that everything of monetary value is properly accounted for according to your wishes. Your assets might include bank and investment accounts, real estate, and other personal possessions.
- Update your existing will. If you’ve already created a will, Make-A-Will month is a great time to pause and review it. If you’ve had any major life changes, such as moving states or changing marital status, it’s worth taking any action to ensure that your will is legally binding in your new state and still reflects your values and intentions
- Add or change your account beneficiaries. Make-A-Will month is also a helpful reminder to review your beneficiary selections for your bank accounts, life insurance policies, donor-advised funds (DAFs), or retirement accounts. Beneficiaries can be family members or loved ones, as well as nonprofit organizations.
However you choose to participate in Make-A-Will month, thank you for taking the time to consider planning for your future! If you have any questions about including the Xerces Society in your legacy, please reach out to us at [email protected].
The Xerces Society does not give legal or tax advice. Please consult with a professional advisor before making a charitable gift.
Shannon joined Xerces in September of 2025. She grew up on the (once) rural edge of Colorado Springs, CO and in the gardens and greenhouses of her family’s garden center/nursery business, and still resides there. Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a minor in evolutionary biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her interest in benthic macroinvertebrates was piqued during a field ecology course, and she completed a thesis project assessing the effects of wildfire on invertebrate populations in mountain streams.
